NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT 3
485BPOS, 1997-04-22
Previous: CASCADE BANCORP, DEFR14A, 1997-04-22
Next: NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT 3, 485BPOS, 1997-04-22



<PAGE>   1

                                                       Registration No. 33-44296

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

   
                         Post-Effective Amendment No. 10
    
                                   TO FORM S-6
              FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF
         SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2

                         -----------------------------

   
                        NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                              (Exact Name of Trust)

                          ----------------------------

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                              One Nationwide Plaza
                              Columbus, Ohio 43215
              (Exact Name and Address of Depositor and Registrant)
    

                               Gordon E. McCutchan
                                    Secretary
                              One Nationwide Plaza
                              Columbus, Ohio 43215
                     (Name and address of Agent for Service)
                                     -------

This Post-Effective Amendment amends the Registration Statement in respect to
the Prospectus and Financial Statements.

[_]   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
   
[X]   on May 1, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
    
[_]   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485
[_]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485
[_]   this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
      previously filed post-effective amendment.

   
The Registrant has registered an indefinite number of securities by a prior
registration statement in accordance with Rule 24f-2 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Registrant filed its Rule 24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996, on February 25, 1997.
    

================================================================================


                                    1 of 102
<PAGE>   2

                        CROSS REFERENCE TO ITEMS REQUIRED
                                 BY FORM N-8B-2

N-8B-2 Item                                     Caption in Prospectus

 1........................................Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                          The Variable Account
 2........................................Nationwide Life Insurance Company
 3........................................Custodian of Assets
 4........................................Distribution of The Policies
 5........................................The Variable Account
 6........................................Not Applicable
 7........................................Not Applicable
 8........................................Not Applicable
 9........................................Legal Proceedings
10........................................Information About The Policies; How
                                          The Cash Value Varies; Right to
                                          Exchange for a Fixed Benefit Policy;
                                          Reinstatement;
                                          Other Policy Provisions
11........................................Investments of The Variable Account
12........................................The Variable Account
13........................................Policy Charges
                                          Reinstatement
14........................................Underwriting and Issuance - Premium
                                          Payments
                                          Minimum Requirements for Issuance of a
                                          Policy
15........................................Investments of the Variable Account;
                                          Premium Payments
16........................................Underwriting and Issuance - Allocation
                                          of Cash Value
17........................................Surrendering The Policy for Cash
18........................................Reinvestment
19........................................Not Applicable
20........................................Not Applicable
21........................................Policy Loans
22........................................Not Applicable
23........................................Not Applicable
24........................................Not Applicable
25........................................Nationwide Life Insurance Company
26........................................Not Applicable
27........................................Nationwide Life Insurance Company
28........................................Company Management
29........................................Company Management
30........................................Not Applicable
31........................................Not Applicable
32........................................Not Applicable
33........................................Not Applicable
34........................................Not Applicable
35........................................Nationwide Life Insurance Company
36........................................Not Applicable
37........................................Not Applicable
38........................................Distribution of The Policies
39........................................Distribution of The Policies
40........................................Not Applicable
41(a).....................................Distribution of The Policies
42........................................Not Applicable
43........................................Not Applicable
44........................................How The Cash Value Varies
45........................................Not Applicable
<PAGE>   3

N-8B-2 Item                                     Caption in Prospectus

46........................................How The Cash Value Varies
47........................................Not Applicable
48........................................Custodian of Assets
49........................................Not Applicable
50........................................Not Applicable
51........................................Summary of The Policies; Information
                                          About The Policies
52........................................Substitution of Securities
53........................................Taxation of The Company
54........................................Not Applicable
55........................................Not Applicable
56........................................Not Applicable
57........................................Not Applicable
58........................................Not Applicable
59........................................Financial Statements
<PAGE>   4

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                 P.O. Box 182150
                            Columbus, Ohio 43218-2150
                       (800) 547-7548, TDD (800) 238-3035

           FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
                 ISSUED BY THE NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                  THROUGH ITS NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3

The Life Insurance Policies offered by this prospectus are variable life
insurance policies (collectively referred to as the "Policies"). The Policies
are designed to provide life insurance coverage and the flexibility to vary the
amount and frequency of premium payments. The Policies may also provide a Cash
Surrender Value if the Policy is terminated during the lifetime of the Insured.
Nationwide Life Insurance Company guarantees to keep the Policy in force during
the first three years so long as the Minimum Premium requirement has been met.
The death benefit and Cash Value of the Policies may vary to reflect the
experience of the Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 (the "Variable Account.") or
the Fixed Account to which Cash Values are allocated.

The Policies described in this prospectus meet the definition of "Life
Insurance" under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

The Policy Owner may allocate Net Premiums and Cash Value to one or more of the
sub-accounts of the Variable Account and the Fixed Account. The assets of each
sub-account will be used to purchase, at net asset value, shares of a designated
Underlying Mutual Fund of the following series of the Underlying variable
account Mutual Fund options:

   
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.:                
     (Formerly, TCI Portfolios, Inc.)                      
     -American Century VP Advantage (Formerly,             
      TCI Advantage                                        
     -American Century VP Balanced (Formerly,              
      TCI Balanced)                                        
     -American Century VP Capital Appreciation             
      (Formerly, TCI Growth)                               
     -American Century VP International (Formerly,         
      TCI International)                                   
     -American Century VP Value (Formerly, TCI
      Value)                                               
    

Dreyfus:
     -Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                             
     -Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund             

   
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund:                          
     -Growth and Income Portfolio
    

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund:                 
     -Equity-Income Portfolio                              
     -Growth Portfolio                                     
     -High Income Portfolio*                               
     -Overseas Portfolio

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II:              
     -Asset Manager Portfolio                              
     -Contrafund Portfolio                                 

Nationwide Separate Account Trust:                         
     -Capital Appreciation Fund
     -Government Bond Fund                                 
     -Money Market Fund                                    
     -Small Company Fund                                   
     -Total Return Fund                                    

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust:
    -Balanced Portfolio                      
    -Growth Portfolio                        
    -Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio        
    -Partners Portfolio                     

Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds:          
    -Bond Fund                               
    -Global Securities Fund                  
    -Multiple Strategies Fund               
                                             
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.                 
                                             
Strong Variable Insurance Funds Inc.:        
    -Discovery Fund II, Inc.                
    -International Stock Fund II             
                                             
   
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust:           
    -Worldwide Bond Fund                     
    -Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund         
    -Worldwide Hard Assets Fund              
    
                                             
Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust:
    -Van Kampen American Capital Real Estate 
     Securities Fund                         
                                             
   
Warburg Pincus Trust                         
     -International Equity Portfolio         
     -Post-Venture Capital Portfolio*        
     -Small Company Growth Portfolio         
                                             

*The Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund High Income Portfolio and the
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post-Venture Capital Portfolio may invest in lower
quality debt securities commonly referred to as junk bonds.
    

Nationwide Life Insurance Company (the "Company") guarantees that the death
benefit for a Policy will never be less than the Specified Amount stated on the
Policy data pages as long as the Policy is in force. There is no guaranteed Cash
Surrender Value. If the Cash Surrender Value is insufficient to cover the
charges under the Policy, the Policy will lapse without value.


                                       1
<PAGE>   5

This prospectus generally describes only that portion of the Cash Value
allocated to the Variable Account. For a brief summary of the Fixed Account
Option, see "The Fixed Account Option."

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. A PROSPECTUS
FOR THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND OPTION(S) BEING CONSIDERED MUST ACCOMPANY THIS
PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION HEREWITH.

   
                   THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 1, 1997.
    


                                       2
<PAGE>   6

                                GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Attained Age-The Insured's age on the Policy Date, plus the number of full years
since the Policy Date.

Accumulation Unit-An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the Variable
Account Cash Value.

Annuity Commencement Date-The date on which annuity payments are scheduled to
start. The Annuity Commencement Date is shown on the Data page of the Contract
and is subject to change by the Owner.

Beneficiary-The person to whom the Death Proceeds are paid.

Break Point Premium-The level annual premium at which the sales load is reduced
on a current basis.

Cash Value-The sum of the Policy values in the Variable Account, Fixed Account
and any associated value in the Policy Loan Account.

Cash Surrender Value-The Policy's Cash Value, less any Indebtedness under the
Policy, less any Surrender Charge.

Code-The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company-The Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

Death Proceeds-Amount of money payable to the Beneficiary if the Insured dies
while the Policy is in force.

Fixed Account-An investment option which is funded by the General Account of the
Company.

General Account-All assets of the Company other than those of the Variable
Account or in other separate accounts that have been or may be established by
the Company.

   
Guideline Level Premium-The amount of level annual premium calculated in
accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. It
represents the level annual premiums required to mature the Policy under
guaranteed mortality and expense charges, and an interest rate of 4%.
    

Home Office-The main office of the Company located in Columbus, Ohio.

Indebtedness-Amounts owed the Company as a result of policy loans including both
principal and accrued interest.

Initial Premium-The Initial Premium is the premium required for coverage to
become effective on the Policy Date. It is shown on the Policy Data Page.

Insured-The person whose life is covered by the Policy, and who is named on the
Policy Data Page.

Maturity Date-The Policy Anniversary on or following the Insured's 95th
birthday.

Minimum Premium-The Minimum Premium is shown on the Policy Data Page. It is used
to measure the total amount of premiums that must be paid during the first three
Policy Years to guarantee the Policy remains in force.

Monthly Anniversary Day-The same day as the Policy Date for each succeeding
month.

   
Underlying Mutual Funds-The Underlying Mutual Funds which correspond to the
sub-accounts of the Variable Account. 
    

Net Asset Value-The worth of one share at the end of a market day or at the
close of the New York Stock Exchange. Net Asset Value is computed by adding the
value of all portfolio holdings, plus other assets, deducting liabilities and
then dividing the results by the number of shares outstanding.

Net Premiums-Net Premiums are equal to the actual premiums minus the percent of
premium charge. The percent of premium charges are shown on the Policy Data
Page.

Policy Anniversary-The same day and month as the Policy Date for succeeding
years.

Policy Charges-All deductions made from the value of the Variable Account, or
the Policy Cash Value.

Policy Date-The date the provisions of the Policy take effect, as shown on the
Policy Owner's Policy Data Page.

Policy Loan Account-The Portion of the Cash Value which results from Policy
Indebtedness.


                                       3
<PAGE>   7

Policy Owner-The person designated in the Policy application as the Owner. In
the State of New York, the variable life insurance Policies offered by the
Company are offered as either "Certificates" for "Certificate Owners" under a
group contract or as individual Policies. The provisions of both the
Certificates and the Policies are essentially the same and references to the
provisions of Policies and rights of Policy Owners in this prospectus include
Certificates and Certificate Owners.

Policy Year-Each year commencing with the Policy Date and each Policy
Anniversary thereafter.

Scheduled Premium-The Scheduled Premium is shown on the Policy Data Page.

Specified Amount-A dollar amount used to determine the death benefit under a
Policy. It is shown on the Policy Data Page.

Surrender Charge-An amount deducted from the Cash Value if the Policy is
surrendered.

   
Valuation Date-Each day the New York Stock Exchange and the Company's Home
Office are open for business or any other day during which there is a sufficient
degree of trading of the Variable Account's Underlying Mutual Fund shares held
by the Variable Account, such that the current net asset value of the Variable
Account Accumulation Units might be materially affected.

Valuation Period-A period commencing with the close of a Valuation Date and
ending at the close of business for the next succeeding Valuation Date.
    

Variable Account-A separate investment account of the Nationwide Life Insurance
Company.


                                       4
<PAGE>   8

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY OF TERMS.............................................................3
SUMMARY OF THE POLICIES.......................................................7
         Variable Life Insurance..............................................7
         The Variable Account and its Sub-Accounts............................7
         The Fixed Account....................................................7
         Deductions and Charges...............................................7
         Premiums............................................................11
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY............................................12
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT.........................................................12
         Investments of the Variable Account.................................12

   
         American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., 
           member of the American CenturySM Investments
           (Formerly TCI Portfolios, Inc.)...................................13
    

         Dreyfus.............................................................14

   
         Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund....................................15
    

         Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund...........................15
         Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II........................16
         Nationwide Separate Account Trust...................................16
         Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust........................17
         Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds..................................17
         Strong Special Fund II, Inc.........................................18
         Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc................................18

   
         Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust (Formerly 
           Van Eck Investment Trust).........................................18
    

         Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust...................19
         Warburg Pincus Trust................................................19
         Reinvestment........................................................20
         Transfers...........................................................20
         Dollar Cost Averaging...............................................20
         Substitution of Securities..........................................21
         Voting Rights.......................................................21
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLICIES...............................................21
         Underwriting and Issuance...........................................21
         -Minimum Requirements for Issuance of a Policy......................21
         -Premium Payments...................................................21
         Allocation of Cash Value............................................22
         Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy...................................22
POLICY CHARGES...............................................................22
         Deductions from Premiums............................................22
         Surrender Charges...................................................23
         -Reductions to Surrender Charges....................................24
         Deductions from Cash Value..........................................24
         -Monthly Cost of Insurance..........................................24
         -Monthly Administrative Charge......................................25
         -Increase Charge....................................................25
         Deductions from the Sub-Accounts....................................25

   
         Reductions of Charges...............................................25
    

HOW THE CASH VALUE VARIES....................................................26
         How the Investment Experience is Determined.........................26
         Net Investment Factor...............................................26
         Valuation of Assets.................................................26
         Determining the Cash Value..........................................26
         Valuation Date and Valuation Period.................................27
SURRENDERING THE POLICY FOR CASH.............................................27
         Right to Surrender..................................................27
         Cash Surrender Value................................................27
         Partial Surrenders..................................................27
         Maturity Proceeds...................................................27
         Income Tax Withholding..............................................28
POLICY LOANS.................................................................28
         Taking a Policy Loan................................................28
         Effect on Investment Performance....................................28


                                       5
<PAGE>   9

         Interest............................................................28
         Effect on Death Benefit and Cash Value..............................29
         Repayment...........................................................29
HOW THE DEATH BENEFIT VARIES.................................................29
         Calculation of the Death Benefit....................................29
         Proceeds Payable on Death...........................................30
RIGHT TO EXCHANGE FOR A FIXED BENEFIT POLICY.................................30
CHANGES OF INVESTMENT POLICY.................................................30
GRACE PERIOD.................................................................30
         -First Three Policy Years...........................................30
         -Policy Years Four and After........................................30
         -All Policy Years...................................................31
REINSTATEMENT................................................................31
THE FIXED ACCOUNT OPTION.....................................................31
CHANGES IN EXISTING INSURANCE COVERAGE.......................................31
         Specified Amount Increases..........................................32
         Specified Amount Decreases..........................................32
         Changes in the Death Benefit Option.................................32
OTHER POLICY PROVISIONS......................................................32
         Policy Owner........................................................32
         Beneficiary.........................................................32
         Assignment..........................................................33
         Incontestability....................................................33
         Error in Age or Sex.................................................33
         Suicide.............................................................33
         Nonparticipating Policies...........................................33

   
         Riders..............................................................33
    

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.........................................................34
DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICIES.................................................34
CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS..........................................................35
TAX MATTERS..................................................................35
         Policy Proceeds.....................................................35

   
         Federal Estate and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes...............35
         Non-Resident Aliens.................................................36
    

         Taxation of the Company.............................................36

   
         Tax Changes.........................................................36
    

THE COMPANY..................................................................37
COMPANY MANAGEMENT...........................................................38
         Directors of the Company............................................38
         Executive Officers of the Company...................................39
OTHER CONTRACTS ISSUED BY THE COMPANY........................................39
STATE REGULATION.............................................................39
REPORTS TO POLICY OWNERS.....................................................39
ADVERTISING..................................................................40
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS............................................................40
EXPERTS......................................................................40
REGISTRATION STATEMENT.......................................................40
LEGAL OPINIONS...............................................................40
APPENDIX 1...................................................................41
APPENDIX 2...................................................................43
PERFORMANCE TABLES...........................................................44
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.........................................................60

THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS.


                                       6
<PAGE>   10

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POLICIES IS TO PROVIDE LIFE INSURANCE PROTECTION FOR
THE BENEFICIARY NAMED IN THE POLICY. NO CLAIM IS MADE THAT THE POLICIES ARE IN
ANY WAY SIMILAR OR COMPARABLE TO A SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN OF A MUTUAL FUND.

                             SUMMARY OF THE POLICIES

Variable Life Insurance

The variable life insurance Policies offered by Nationwide Life Insurance
Company (the "Company") are similar in many ways to fixed-benefit whole life
insurance. As with fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Owner of the Policy
pays a premium for life insurance coverage on the person insured. Also like
fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Policies may provide for a Cash
Surrender Value which is payable if the Policy is terminated during the
Insured's lifetime. As with fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Cash
Surrender Value during the early Policy years may be substantially lower than
the premiums paid.

However, the Policies differ from fixed-benefit whole life insurance in several
respects. Unlike fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the death benefit and Cash
Value of the Policies may increase or decrease to reflect the investment
performance of the Variable Account sub-accounts or the Fixed Account to which
Cash Values are allocated (see "How the Death Benefit Varies"). There is no
guaranteed Cash Surrender Value (see "How the Cash Value Varies"). If the Cash
Surrender Value is insufficient to pay the Policy Charges, the Policy will lapse
without value. Nationwide Life Insurance Company guarantees to keep the Policy
in force during the first three years so long as certain requirements are met
(see "Underwriting and Issuance").

Under certain conditions, a Policy may be issued as or become a modified
endowment contract (MEC) as a result of a material change or a reduction in
benefits as defined by the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"). Excess premiums paid
may also cause the Policy to become a modified endowment contract, since the tax
treatment of certain distributions varies between MECs and non-MECs. The Company
will monitor premiums paid and other policy transactions and will notify the
Policy Owner when the Policy is about to become a non-modified endowment
contract (see "Tax Matters").


The Variable Account and its Sub-Accounts

   
The Company places the Policy's Net Premiums in the Variable Account or the
Fixed Account at the time the Policy is issued. The Policy Owner chooses the
sub-accounts of the Variable Account or the Fixed Account into which the Cash
Value will be allocated (see "Allocation of Cash Value"). During the free look
period, however, the Cash Value is allocated to the Nationwide Separate Account
Trust ("NSAT") - Money Market Fund or the Fixed Account. For more information on
the short term right to cancel this policy, please see "Short Term Right to
Cancel Policy". Assets of each sub-account are invested at net asset value in
shares of a corresponding Underlying Mutual Fund options. For a description of
the Underlying Mutual Fund options and their investment objectives, see
"Investments of the Variable Account."
    


The Fixed Account

The Fixed Account is funded by the assets of the Company's General Account. Cash
Values allocated to the Fixed Account are credited with interest daily at a rate
declared by the Company. The interest rate declared is at the Company's sole
discretion, but may never be less than an effective annual rate of 4%.


Deductions and Charges

The Company deducts certain charges from the assets of the Variable Account and
the Cash Value of the Policy. These charges are made for administrative and
sales expenses, state premium taxes, providing life insurance protection and
assuming the mortality and expense risks. For a discussion of any charges
imposed by the Underlying Mutual Fund options, see the prospectuses of the
respective Underlying Mutual Fund options.

The Company deducts a sales load from each premium payment received not to
exceed 3.5% of each premium payment. On a current basis, the sales load is
reduced to 1.5% on any portion of the annual premium paid in excess of the
annual Break Point Premium. The total sales load actually deducted from any
Policy will be equal to the sum of this front-end load plus any sales surrender
charge that may be deducted from Policies that are surrendered.

   
A charge for state premium taxes equal to 2.5% of all premium payments is also
deducted by the Company.
    


                                       7
<PAGE>   11

The Company deducts the following charges from the Policy's Cash Value on the
Policy Date and each subsequent Monthly Anniversary Day:

      1.    monthly cost of insurance; plus

      2.    monthly cost of any additional benefits provided by riders to the
            Policy; plus

   
      3.    an administrative expense charge. This charge is $12.50 per month in
            the first year and $5 per month in renewal years. The charge in
            renewal years may be increased at the sole discretion of the Company
            but may not exceed $25 per month in the first year and $7.50 per
            month in renewal years; plus
    

      4.    an increase charge per $1000 applied to any increase in the
            Specified Amount. The increase charge is $2.04 per year per $1000
            and is shown on the Policy data page. This charge is designed to
            cover the costs associated with increasing the Specified Amount (see
            "Policy Charges"). This charge will be deducted on each Monthly
            Anniversary Day for the first 12 months after the increase becomes
            effective.

   
The Company deducts on a daily basis from the assets of the Variable Account a
charge to provide for mortality and expense risks. This charge is equivalent to
an annual effective rate of 0.80% of the daily net assets of the Variable
Account. On each Policy Anniversary beginning with the 10th, the mortality and
expense risk charge is reduced to 0.50% on an annual basis of the daily net
assets of the Variable account, provided the Cash Surrender Value is $25,000 or
more on such anniversary. (For policies issued in New York, such reduction
occurs regardless of the amount of cash surrender value on such anniversary.
    

For Policies which are surrendered during the first nine Policy Years, the
Company deducts a Surrender Charge. This Surrender Charge is comprised of an
Underwriting Surrender Charge and a Sales Surrender Charge. The maximum initial
Surrender Charge varies by issue age, sex, Specified Amount and underwriting
classification and is calculated based on the initial Specified Amount. The
following table illustrates the maximum initial Surrender Charge per $1,000 of
initial Specified Amount for Policies which are issued on a Standard basis (see
Appendix 1 for specific examples).

                  Initial Specified Amount $50,000-$99,999

Issue             Male              Female              Male             Female
 Age          Non-Tobacco        Non-Tobacco          Standard          Standard
 ---          -----------        -----------          --------          --------
 25               $7.776             $7.521             $8.369            $7.818
 35                8.817              8.398              9.811             8.891
 45               12.191             11.396             13.887            12.169
 55               15.636             14.011             18.415            15.116
 65               22.295             19.086             26.577            20.641

                       Initial Specified Amount $100,000+

Issue             Male              Female              Male             Female
 Age          Non-Tobacco        Non-Tobacco          Standard          Standard
 ---          -----------        -----------          --------          --------
 25               $5.776             $5.521             $6.369            $5.818
 35                6.817              6.398              7.811             6.891
 45                9.691              8.896             11.387             9.669
 55               13.136             11.511             15.915            12.616
 65               21.295             18.086             25.577            19.641

   
Underlying Mutual Fund shares are purchased at net asset value, which reflects
the deduction of investment management fees and certain other expenses. The
management fees are charged by each Underlying Mutual Fund's investment adviser
for managing the Underlying Mutual Fund and selecting their portfolio of
securities. Other Underlying Mutual Fund expenses can include such items as
interest expense on loans and contracts with transfer agents, custodians, and
other companies that provide services to the Underlying Mutual Fund. The
management fees and other expenses for each Underlying Mutual Fund for its most
recently completed fiscal year, expressed as a percentage of the Underlying
Mutual Fund's average assets are as follows:
    


                                       8
<PAGE>   12

   
                     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
                  (After Expense Reimbursement - If Applicable)

================================================================================
                                                   Management   Other     Total
                                                      Fees    Expenses  Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portofolio's, Inc.          1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
     -American Century VP Advantage                   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portofolio's, Inc.          1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
     -American Century VP Balanced                    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portofolio's, Inc.          1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
     -American Century VP Capital Appreciation        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portofolio's, Inc.          1.50%     0.00%     1.50%
     -American Century VP International               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portfolio's, Inc.           1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
     -American Century VP Value                       
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund              0.72%     0.24%     0.96%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                              0.25%     0.05%     0.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund                      0.75%     0.08%     0.83%
     -Growth and Income Portfolio                     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund             0.51%     0.07%     0.58%
     - Equity Income Portfolio                        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund             0.61%     0.08%     0.69%
     - Growth Portfolio                               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund             0.59%     0.12%     0.71%
     - High Income Portfolio                          
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund             0.76%     0.17%     0.93%
     - Overseas Portfolio                             
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II          0.64%     0.10%     0.74%
     - Asset Manager Portfolio                        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II          0.61%     0.13%     0.74%
     - Contrafund Portfolio                           
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate Account Trust                     0.50%     0.02%     0.52%
     - Capital Appreciation Fund                      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate Account Trust                     0.50%     0.01%     0.51%
     - Government Bond Fund                           
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate Account Trust                     0.50%     0.03%     0.53%
     - Money Market Fund                              
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate Account Trust                     1.00%     0.10%     1.10%
     - Small Company Fund                             
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nationwide Separate Account Trust                     0.50%     0.02%     0.52%
     - Total Return Fund                              
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust          0.85%     0.23%     1.08%
     - Balanced Portfolio                             
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust          0.83%     0.09%     0.92%
     - Growth Portfolio                               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust          0.65%     0.13%     0.78%
     - Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust          0.84%     0.11%     0.95%
     - Partners Portfolio                             
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds                    0.74%     0.04%     0.78%
     - Bond Fund                                      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds                    0.73%     0.08%     0.81%
     - Global Securities Fund                         
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds                    0.73%     0.04%     0.77%
     - Multiple Strategies Fund                       
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.                          1.00%     0.17%     1.17%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.                 1.00%     0.22%     1.22%
     - Discovery Fund II, Inc.                        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.                 1.00%     0.59%     1.59%
     - International Stock Fund II                    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust                     1.00%     0.08%     1.08%
     - Worldwide Bond Fund                            
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust                     1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
     - Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund                
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust                     1.00%     0.08%     1.08%
     - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital Life                      0.83%     0.27%     1.10%
     Investment Trust - Van Kampen                    
     American Capital Real Estate                          
     Securities Fund                          
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International                  0.96%     0.40%     1.36%
     Equity Portfolio                                 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post-Venture                   0.62%     0.78%     1.40%
     Capital Portfolio*                               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small Company                  0.90%     0.26%     1.16%
     Growth Portfolio                                 
================================================================================

The Mutual Fund expenses shown above are assessed at the Underlying Mutual Fund
level and are not direct charges against the Variable Account or reductions in
Cash Value. These Underlying Mutual Fund expenses are taken into consideration
in computing each Underlying Mutual Fund's net asset value, which is the share
price used to calculate the Variable Account's unit value. None of the above
Underlying Mutual Funds are subject to 12(b)(1) fees. The following Underlying
Mutual Funds are subject to fee waivers or expense reimbursement arrangements:
    


                                       9
<PAGE>   13

   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       FUND                          EXPENSES WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT OR WAIVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

American Century Variable           Absent a waiver of fees by the investment
Portfolio's , Inc. - American       adviser and Portfolios co-administrator,
Century VP Value                    Management Fees for the Portfolio would
                                    equal 1.25%. Other expenses would equal
                                    .81%; Total Portfolio Operating Expenses
                                    would have been 2.06%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dreyfus Stock Index Fund            In the event that aggregate expenses of the
                                    Fund exceed .40 of 1% of the value of the
                                    Fund's average net assets for the fiscal
                                    year, the Fund may deduct from the payment
                                    to be made to Dreyfus, or Dreyfus will bear,
                                    such excess expense. In addition, the Fund
                                    may waive receipt of its fees and/or
                                    voluntarily assume certain expenses of the
                                    Fund, which would have the effect of
                                    lowering the overall expense ratio of the
                                    Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dreyfus Socially Responsible        In the event that aggregate expenses of the
Growth Fund                         Fund exceed .40 of 1% of the value of the
                                    Fund's average net assets for the fiscal
                                    year, the Fund may deduct from the payment
                                    to be made to Dreyfus, or Dreyfus will bear,
                                    such excess expense. In addition, the Fund
                                    may waive receipt of its fees and/or
                                    voluntarily assume certain expenses of the
                                    Fund, which would have the effect of
                                    lowering the overall expense ratio of the
                                    Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund - Equity-Income       reimburse a fund for management fees and
Portfolio                           other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund - Growth Portfolio    reimburse a fund for management fees and
                                    other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund - High-Income         reimburse a fund for management fees and
Portfolio                           other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund - Overseas            reimburse a fund for management fees and
Portfolio                           other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund II - Asset Manager    reimburse a fund for management fees and
Portfolio                           other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fidelity Variable Insurance         The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Products Fund II - Contrafund       reimburse a fund for management fees and
Portfolio                           other expenses above a specified limit. The
                                    Fund retains the ability to be repaid if
                                    expenses fall below the specified limit
                                    prior to the end of the fiscal year.
                                    Reimbursement arrangements, which may be
                                    terminated at any time, can decrease the
                                    Fund's expense and boost its performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neuberger & Berman Advisers         The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Balanced         reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Portfolio                           expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                    expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's
                                    average daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neuberger & Berman Advisers         The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Growth           reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Portfolio                           expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                    expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's
                                    average daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neuberger & Berman Advisers         The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Limited          reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Maturity Bond Portfolio             expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                    expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's
                                    average daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neuberger & Berman Advisers         The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Partners         reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Portfolio                           expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                    expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's
                                    average daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    


                                       10
<PAGE>   14

   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       FUND                          EXPENSES WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT OR WAIVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strong Variable Insurance Funds,    The Fund Advisor may voluntarily waive all
Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.      or a portion of its management fee and/or
                                    absorb certain expenses for the Fund without
                                    further notification of the commencement or
                                    termination of any such waiver or
                                    absorption. Any such waiver or absorption
                                    will have the effect of lowering the overall
                                    expense ratio of the Fund and increasing the
                                    Fund's return to investors at the time such
                                    amounts were waived and/or absorbed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strong Variable Insurance Funds,    The Fund Advisor may voluntarily waive all
Inc. - International Stock          or a portion of its management fee and/or
Fund II                             absorb certain expenses for the Fund without
                                    further notification of the commencement or
                                    termination of any such waiver or
                                    absorption. Any such waiver or absorption
                                    will have the effect of lowering the overall
                                    expense ratio of the Fund and increasing the
                                    Fund's return to investors at the time such
                                    amounts were waived and/or absorbed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strong Special Fund II, Inc.        The Fund Advisor may voluntarily waive all
                                    or a portion of its management fee and/or
                                    absorb certain expenses for the Fund without
                                    further notification of the commencement or
                                    termination of any such waiver or
                                    absorption. Any such waiver or absorption
                                    will have the effect of lowering the overall
                                    expense ratio of the Fund and increasing the
                                    Fund's return to investors at the time such
                                    amounts were waived and/or absorbed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Van Kampen American Capital Life    The Trust reimburses the Adviser for the
Investment Trust - Real             cost of the Fund's accounting services.
Estate Securities Fund              Further, the Adviser and the Subadviser may,
                                    from time to time, agree to waive their
                                    respective investment advisory fees or any
                                    portion thereof or elect to reimburse the
                                    Fund for ordinary business expenses in
                                    excess of an agreed upon amount.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warburg Pincus Trust -              The Management Fees, Other Expenses and
International Equity Portfolio      Total Portfolio Operating Expenses are net
                                    of any fee waivers or expense
                                    reimbursements. Without such waivers or
                                    reimbursements, Management Fees would have
                                    equaled 1.00%, Other Expenses would have
                                    equaled 1.21% and total Portfolio Operating
                                    Expenses would have equaled 2.21%. The
                                    Fund's investment adviser had undertaken to
                                    reduce or otherwise limit Total Portfolio
                                    Operating Expenses; there is no assurance
                                    that these undertakings will continue.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warburg Pincus Trust - Small        The Management Fees, Other Expenses and
Company Growth Portfolio            Total Portfolio Operating Expenses are net
                                    of any fee waivers or expense
                                    reimbursements. Without such waivers or
                                    reimbursements, Management Fees would have
                                    equaled .90%, Other Expenses would have
                                    equaled .60% and total Portfolio Operating
                                    Expenses would have equaled 1.50%. The
                                    Fund's investment adviser had undertaken to
                                    reduce or otherwise limit Total Portfolio
                                    Operating Expenses; there is no assurance
                                    that these undertakings will continue.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

The information relating to the Underlying Mutual Fund expenses was provided by
the Underlying Mutual Fund and was not independently verified by the Company.

Premiums

The minimum Initial Premium for which a Policy may be issued is equal to three
minimum monthly premiums. A Policy may be issued to an Insured up to age 80.

For a limited time, the Policy Owner has a right to cancel the Policy and
receive a full refund of premiums paid (see "Short-Term Right to Cancel
Policy").

The Initial Premium is due on the Policy Date. It will be credited on the Policy
Date. Any due and unpaid monthly deductions will be subtracted from the Cash
Value at this time. Insurance will not be effective until the Initial Premium is
paid. The Initial Premium is shown on the Policy data page.

Premiums, other than the Initial Premium may be made at any time while your
Policy is in force subject to the limits described below. During the first three
Policy Years, the total premium payments less any Policy Indebtedness, less any
partial surrenders, and less any partial surrender fee must be greater than or
equal to the Minimum Premium requirement in order to guarantee the Policy remain
in force. The Minimum Premium requirement is equal to the monthly Minimum
Premium multiplied by the number of completed policy months. The monthly Minimum
Premium is shown on the Policy data page.

We will send Scheduled Premium payment reminder notices to you. We will send
them according to the premium mode shown on the Policy data page.

You may pay the Initial Premium to us at our Home Office or to an authorized
agent. All premiums after the first are payable at our Home Office. Premium
receipts will be furnished upon request.


                                       11
<PAGE>   15

Each premium must be at least equal to the monthly Minimum Premium. The Company
reserves the right to require satisfactory evidence of insurability before
accepting any additional premium payment which results in any increase in the
net amount at risk. Also, we will refund any portion of any premium payment
which is determined to be in excess of the premium limit established by law to
qualify your Policy as a contract for life insurance. Where permitted by state
law, we may also require that any existing Policy Indebtedness is repaid prior
to accepting any additional premium payments.

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Company is a stock life insurance company organized under the laws of the
State of Ohio in March, 1929. The Company is a member of the Nationwide
Insurance Enterprise which includes Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company,
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance
Company, Nationwide Property and Casualty Company, National Casualty Company,
West Coast Life Insurance Company, Scottsdale Indemnity Company, Nationwide
Indemnity Company and Nationwide General Insurance Company. The Company's Home
Office is at One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

The Company offers a complete line of life insurance, including annuities and
accident and health insurance. It is admitted to do business in all states, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (for additional information, see "The
Company").

                              THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

   
The Variable Account was established by a resolution of the Company's Board of
Directors, on August 8, 1984, pursuant to the provisions of Ohio law. The
Company has caused the Variable Account to be registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust pursuant to the provisions of the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, One
Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215 serves as trustee for the trust.
Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215
serves as principal underwriter for the trust. Such registration does not
involve supervision of the management of the Variable Account or the Company by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    

The Variable Account is a separate investment account of the Company and as
such, is not chargeable with the liabilities arising out of any other business
the Company may conduct. The Company does not guarantee the investment
performance of the Variable Account. The death benefit and Cash Value under the
Policy may vary with the investment performance of the investments in the
Variable Account (see "How the Death Benefit Varies" and "How the Cash Value
Varies").

Net Premium payments and Cash Value are allocated within the Variable Account
among one or more sub-accounts (see "Tax Matters"). The assets of each
sub-account are used to purchase shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds
designated by the Policy Owner. Thus, the investment performance of a Policy
depends upon the investment performance of the Underlying Mutual Funds
designated by the Policy Owner.

Investments of the Variable Account

   
At the time of application, the Policy Owner elects to have the Net Premiums
allocated among one or more of the Variable Account sub-accounts and the Fixed
Account (see "Allocation of Cash Value"). During the period in which the Policy
Owner may exercise his or her short-term right to cancel the Policy, all Net
Premiums not allocated to the Fixed Account are placed in the NSAT Money Market
Fund sub-account. At the end of this period, the Cash Value in that sub-account
will be transferred to the Variable Account sub-accounts based on the Fund
allocation factors. Any subsequent Net Premiums received after this period will
be allocated based on the Underlying Mutual Fund allocation factors.
    

   
No less than 5% of Net Premiums may be allocated to any one sub-account or the
Fixed Account. The Policy Owner may change the allocation of Net Premiums or may
transfer Cash Value from one sub-account to another, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be imposed by each Underlying Mutual Fund option and as set
forth in this prospectus (see "Transfers", "Allocation of Cash Value" and
"Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy"). Additional Premium Payments, upon
acceptance, will be allocated to the NSAT Money Market Fund unless the Policy
Owner specifies otherwise (see "Premium Payments").
    

These Underlying Mutual Fund options are available only to serve as the
Underlying investment for variable annuity and variable life contracts issued
through separate accounts of the life insurance companies which may or may not
be affiliated, also known as "mixed and shared funding." There are certain risks
associated with mixed and shared funding, which is disclosed in the Underlying
Mutual Funds' prospectuses. A full description of the Underlying Mutual Fund
options, their investment policies and restrictions, risks and charges are
contained in the prospectuses of the respective Underlying Mutual Funds.


                                       12
<PAGE>   16

Each of the Underlying Mutual Fund options receives investment advice from a
registered investment adviser:

   
      1.    American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., managed by Investors
            Research Corporation, an affiliate of American CenturySM Companies,
            Inc.;

      2.    Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, managed by The Dreyfus
            Corporation;

      3.    Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, managed by The Dreyfus Corporation;
    

      4.    Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund, managed by Fidelity
            Management & Research Company;

      5.    Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II, managed by Fidelity
            Management & Research Company;

   
      6.    Nationwide Separate Account Trust, managed by Nationwide Advisory
            Services, Inc.;
    

      7.    Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust, managed by Neuberger &
            Berman Management Incorporated;

      8.    Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds, managed by Oppenheimer
            Management Corporation;

      9.    Strong Special Fund II, Inc., managed by Strong Capital Management,
            Inc.;

      10.   Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., managed by Strong Capital
            Management, Inc.;

      11.   Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust, managed by Van Eck Associates
            Corporation;

      12.   Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust, managed by Van
            Kampen American Capital Management, Inc.; and

      13.   Warburg Pincus Trust, managed by Warburg Pincus Counsellors, Inc.

A summary of investment objectives is contained in the description of each
Underlying Mutual Fund option below. More detailed information may be found in
the current prospectus for each Underlying Mutual Fund option. A prospectus for
the Underlying Mutual Fund option(s) being considered must accompany this
prospectus and should be read in conjunction herewith.

   
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., an affiliate of American CenturySM
Companies, Inc.

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., (formerly TCI Portfolios, Inc.) was
organized as a Maryland corporation in 1987. It is a diversified, open-end
management investment company, designed only to provide investment vehicles for
variable annuity and variable life insurance products of insurance companies. An
affiliate of American CenturySM Companies, Inc., American Century Variable
Portfolios is managed by Investors Research Corporation.

      - American Century VP Advantage (Formerly, TCI Advantage)

      Investment Objective: Current income and capital growth. The Fund will
      seek to achieve its objective by investing in three types of securities.
      The Fund's investment manager intends to invest approximately: (1) 20% of
      the Fund's assets in securities of the United States government and its
      agencies and instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by
      such securities with a weighted average maturity of six months or less,
      i.e., cash or cash equivalents; (2) 40% of the Fund's assets in fixed
      income securities of the United States government and its agencies and
      instrumentalities with a weighted average maturity of three to ten years;
      and (3) 40% of the Fund's assets in equity securities that are considered
      by management to have better-than-average prospects for appreciation.
      Assets will be purchased or sold, as the case may be, as is necessary in
      response to changes in market value to maintain the asset mix of the
      Fund's portfolio at approximately 60% cash, cash equivalents and fixed
      income securities and 40% equity securities. There can be no assurance
      that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

     - American Century VP Balanced (Formerly, TCI Balanced)

      Investment Objective: Capital growth and current income. The Fund will
      seek to achieve its objective by maintaining approximately 60% of the
      assets of the Fund in common stocks (including securities convertible into
      common stocks and other equity equivalents) that are considered by
      management to have better-than-average prospects for appreciation and
      approximately 40% in fixed income securities. There can be no assurance
      that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
    


                                       13
<PAGE>   17

   
     - American Century VP Capital Appreciation (Formerly, TCI Growth)

      Investment Objective: Capital growth. The Fund will seek to achieve its
      objective by investing in common stocks (including securities convertible
      into common stocks and other equity equivalents) that meet certain
      fundamental and technical standards of selection and have, in the opinion
      of the Fund's investment manager, better than average potential for
      appreciation. The Fund tries to stay fully invested in such securities,
      regardless of the movement of stock prices generally.

      The Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents temporarily or when it is
      unable to find common stocks meeting its criteria of selection. It may
      purchase securities only of companies that have a record of at least three
      years continuous operation. There can be no assurance that the Fund will
      achieve its investment objective.

     - American Century VP International (Formerly, TCI International)

      Investment Objective: To seek capital growth. The Fund will seek to
      achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in securities of
      foreign companies that meet certain fundamental and technical standards of
      selection and, in the opinion of the investment manager, have potential
      for appreciation. Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least
      65% of its assets in common stocks or other equity securities of issuers
      from at least three countries outside the United States. Securities of
      United States issuers may be included in the portfolio from time to time.
      Although the primary investment of the Fund will be common stocks (defined
      to include depository receipts for common stocks), the Fund may also
      invest in other types of securities consistent with the Fund's objective.
      When the manager believes that the total return potential of other
      securities equals or exceeds the potential return of common stocks, the
      Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in such other securities. There
      can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objectives.

     - American Century VP Value

      Investment Objective: The investment objective of the Fund is long-term
      capital growth; income is a secondary objective. Under normal market
      conditions, the Fund expects to invest at least 80% of the value of its
      total asset in equity securities, including common and preferred stock,
      convertible preferred stock and convertible debt obligations. The equity
      securities in which the Fund will invest will be primarily securities of
      well-established companies with intermediate-to-large market
      capitalizations that are believed by management to be undervalued at the
      time of purchase.
    

(Although the Statement of Additional Information concerning American Century
Variable Portfolios, Inc. refers to redemptions of securities in kind under
certain conditions, all surrendering or redeeming Contract Owners will receive
cash from the Company.)

Dreyfus

      Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.

   
      Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. is an open-end,
      diversified, management investment company. It was incorporated under
      Maryland law on July 20, 1992, and commenced operations on October 7,
      1993. The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the Fund's investment advisor. NCM
      Capital Management Group, Inc. serves as the Fund's sub-investment adviser
      and provides day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio.
    

      Investment Objective: The Fund's primary goal is to provide capital growth
      through equity investment in companies that, in the opinion of the Fund's
      management, not only meet traditional investment standards, but which also
      show evidence that they conduct their business in a manner that
      contributes to the enhancement of the quality of life in America. Current
      income is secondary to the primary goal.

     - Dreyfus Stock Index Fund

   
      Dreyfus Stock Index Fund is an open-end, non-diversified management
      investment company. It was incorporated under Maryland law on January 24,
      1989, and commenced operations on September 29, 1989. The Dreyfus
      Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the Fund's manager with Mellon Equity.
    

      Investment Objective: To provide investment results that correspond to the
      price and yield performance of publicly traded common stocks in the
      aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
      Price Index. The Fund is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with Standard
      & Poor's Corporation.


                                       14
<PAGE>   18

   
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund

Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, management
investment company. It was organized as an unincorporated business trust under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on October 29,1986 and commenced
operations August 31, 1990. The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the
Fund's manager. Dreyfus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank, N.A., which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation.

     - Growth and Income Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To provide long-term capital growth, current income
      and growth of income, consistent with reasonable investment risk. The
      Portfolio invests in equity securities, debt securities and money market
      instruments of domestic and foreign issuers. The proportion of the
      Portfolio's assets invested in each type of security will vary from time
      to time in accordance with Dreyfus' assessment of economic conditions and
      investment opportunities. In purchasing equity securities, Dreyfus will
      invest in common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into
      common stocks, particularly those which offer opportunities for capital
      appreciation and growth of earnings, while paying current dividends. The
      Portfolio will generally invest in investment-grade debt obligations,
      except that it may invest up to 35% of the value of its net assets in
      convertible debt securities rated not lower than Caa by Moody's Investor
      Service, Inc. or CCC by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Fitch Investors
      Service, L.P. or Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., or if unrated, deemed to
      be of comparable quality by Dreyfus. These securities are considered to
      have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to
      pay interest and repay principal and are considered to be of poor
      standing. See "Investment Considerations and Risks-Lower Rated Securities"
      in the Portfolio's prospectuses.
    

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund

   
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund is an open-end, diversified management
investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 13,
1981. The Fund's shares are purchased by insurance companies to fund benefits
under variable insurance and annuity policies. Fidelity Management & Research
Company ('FMR') is the Fund's manager.
    

     - Equity-Income Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek reasonable income by investing primarily in
      income-producing equity securities. In choosing these securities FMR also
      will consider the potential for capital appreciation. The Portfolio's goal
      is to achieve a yield which exceeds the composite yield on the securities
      comprising the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

     - Growth Portfolio

      Investment Objective: Seeks to achieve capital appreciation. This
      Portfolio will invest in the securities of both well-known and established
      companies, and smaller, less well-known companies which may have a narrow
      product line or whose securities are thinly traded. These latter
      securities will often involve greater risk than may be found in the
      ordinary investment security. FMR's analysis and expertise plays an
      integral role in the selection of securities and, therefore, the
      performance of the Portfolio. Many securities which FMR believes would
      have the greatest potential may be regarded as speculative, and investment
      in the Portfolio may involve greater risk than is inherent in other mutual
      funds. It is also important to point out that the Portfolio makes most
      sense for you if you can afford to ride out changes in the stock market,
      because it invests primarily in common stocks. FMR also can make temporary
      investments in securities such as investment-grade bonds, high-quality
      preferred stocks and short-term notes, for defensive purposes when it
      believes market conditions warrant.

     - High Income Portfolio

      Investment Objective: Seeks to obtain a high level of current income by
      investing primarily in high-risk, high-yielding, lower-rated, fixed-income
      securities, while also considering growth of capital. The portfolio's
      manager will seek high current income normally by investing the
      Portfolio's assets as follows:

      -     at least 65% in income-producing debt securities and preferred
            stocks, including convertible securities, zero coupon securities,
            and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.

      -     up to 20% in common stocks and other equity securities when
            consistent with the Portfolio's primary objective or acquired as
            part of a unit combining fixed-income and equity securities.


                                       15
<PAGE>   19

Higher yields are usually available on securities that are lower-rated or that
are unrated. Lower-rated securities are usually defined as Ba or lower by
Moody's; BB or lower by Standard & Poor's and may be deemed to be of a
speculative nature. The Portfolio may also purchase lower-quality bonds such as
those rated Ca3 by Moody's or C- by Standard & Poor's which provide poor
protection for payment of principal and interest (commonly referred to as "junk
bonds"). For a further discussion of lower-rated securities, please see the
"Risks of Lower-Rated Debt Securities" section of the Portfolio's prospectus.

     - Overseas Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek long term growth of capital primarily
      through investments in foreign securities. The Overseas Portfolio provides
      a means for investors to diversify their own portfolios by participating
      in companies and economics outside of the United States.

Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II

   
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II is an open-end, diversified
management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on
March 21, 1988. The Fund's shares are purchased by insurance companies to fund
benefits under variable insurance and annuity policies. FMR is the Fund's
manager.
    

     - Asset Manager Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek to obtain high total return with reduced
      risk over the long-term by allocating its assets among domestic and
      foreign stocks, bonds and short-term fixed income instruments.

     - Contrafund Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek capital appreciation by investing primarily
      in companies that the Fund manager believes to be undervalued due to an
      overly pessimistic appraisal by the public. This strategy can lead to
      investments in domestic or foreign companies, small and large, many of
      which may not be well known. The Fund primarily invests in common stock
      and securities convertible into common stock, but it has the flexibility
      to invest in any type of security that may produce capital appreciation.

Nationwide Separate Account Trust

   
Nationwide Separate Account Trust (the "Trust") is a diversified open-end
management investment company organized under the laws of Massachusetts, by a
Declaration of Trust. The Trust offers shares in the five separate Mutual Funds
listed below, each with its own investment objective. Currently, shares of the
Trust will be sold only to life insurance company separate accounts to fund the
benefits under variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts
issued by life insurance companies. The assets of the Trust are managed by
Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company.
    

     - Capital Appreciation Fund

      Investment Objective: The Fund is designed for investors who are
      interested in long-term growth. The Fund seeks to meet its objective
      primarily through a diversified portfolio of the common stock of companies
      which the investment manager determines have a better-than-average
      potential for sustained capital growth over the long term.

     - Government Bond Fund

      Investment Objective: To provide as high a level of income as is
      consistent with capital preservation through investing primarily in bonds
      and securities issued or backed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
      instrumentalities.

     - Money Market Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek as high a level of current income as is
      considered consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity by
      investing primarily in money market instruments.

     - Small Company Fund

   
      Investment Objective: The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by
      investing primarily in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies
      with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion at the time of
      purchase. Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. ("NAS"), the Fund's adviser,
      has employed a group of sub-advisers, each of which will manage a portion
      of the Fund's portfolio. These sub-advisers are the The Dreyfus
      Corporation, Neuberger & Berman, L.P., Pictet International Management
      Limited, Van Eck Associates Corporation, Strong Capital Management, Inc.
      and Warburg, Pincus Counsellors, Inc. The sub-advisers were chosen because
      they utilize a number of different investment styles when investing in
      small company stocks. By utilizing a number of investment styles, NAS
      hopes to increase prospects for investment return and to reduce market
      risk and volatility. 
    


                                       16
<PAGE>   20

     - Total Return Fund

      Investment Objective: To obtain a reasonable long-term total return (i.e.,
      earnings growth plus potential dividend yield) on invested capital from a
      flexible combination of current return and capital gains through
      investments in common stocks, convertible issues, money market instruments
      and bonds with a primary emphasis on common stocks.

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust is an open-end diversified
management investment company established as a Massachusetts business trust on
December 14, 1983. Shares of the Trust are offered in connection with certain
variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued through
life insurance company separate accounts and are also offered directly to
qualified pension and retirement plans outside of the separate account context.
The investment adviser is Neuberger & Berman Management Incorporated.

     - Balanced Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To provide long-term capital growth and reasonable
      current income without undue risk to principal. The Balanced Portfolio
      will seek to achieve its objective through investment of a portion of its
      assets in common stocks and a portion of its assets in debt securities.
      The Investment Adviser anticipates that the Balanced Portfolio's
      investments will normally be managed so that approximately 60% of the
      Portfolio's total assets will be invested in common stocks and the
      remaining assets will be invested in debt securities. However, depending
      on the Investment Adviser's views regarding current market trends, the
      common stock portion of the Portfolio's investments may be adjusted
      downward to as low as 50% or upward to as high as 70%. At least 25% of the
      Portfolio's assets will be invested in fixed income senior securities

     - Growth Portfolio

      Investment Objective: The Portfolio seeks capital growth through
      investments in common stocks of companies that the investment adviser
      believes will have above average earnings or otherwise provide investors
      with above average potential for capital appreciation. To maximize this
      potential, the investment adviser may also utilize, from time to time,
      securities convertible into common stocks, warrants and options to
      purchase such stocks.

     - Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio

   
      Investment Objective: To provide the high level of current income,
      consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity. As a secondary
      objective, it also seeks to enhance its total return through capital
      appreciation when market factors, such as falling interest rates and
      rising bond prices, indicate that capital appreciation may be available
      without significant risk to principal. It seeks to achieve its objectives
      through investments in a diversified portfolio of limited maturity debt
      securities. The Portfolio invests in securities which are at least
      investment grade and does not invest in junk bonds.
    

     - Partners Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek capital growth. This Portfolio will seek to
      achieve its objective by investing primarily in the common stock of
      established companies. Its investment program seeks securities believed to
      be undervalued based on fundamentals such as low price-to-earnings ratios,
      consistent cash flows, and support from asset values. The objective of the
      Partners Portfolio is not fundamental and can be changed by the Trustees
      of the Trust without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however,
      receive at least 30 days prior notice thereof. There is no assurance the
      investment objective will be met.

Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

The Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds is an open-end, diversified management
investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust in 1984. Shares
of the Funds are sold only to provide benefits under variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts. Oppenheimer Management Corporation is
the Funds' investment advisor.

     - Bond Fund

      Investment Objective: Primarily to seek a high level of current income
      from investment in high yield fixed-income securities rated "Baa" or
      better by Moody's or "BBB" or better by Standard & Poor's. Secondarily,
      the Fund seeks capital growth when consistent with its primary objective.


                                       17
<PAGE>   21

     - Global Securities Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
      a substantial portion of assets in securities of foreign issuers,
      "growth-type" companies, cyclical industries and special situations which
      are considered to have appreciation possibilities. Current income is not
      an objective. These securities may be considered to be speculative.

     - Multiple Strategies Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek a total investment return (which includes
      current income and capital appreciation in the value of its shares) from
      investments in common stocks and other equity securities, bonds and other
      debt securities, and "money market" securities.

Strong Special Fund II, Inc.

The Strong Special Fund II, Inc. ("Special Fund II") is a diversified, open-end
management company commonly called a mutual fund. The Special Fund II was
incorporated in Wisconsin and may only be purchased by the separate accounts of
insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and
variable life policies. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is the
investment advisor of the Fund.

     - Special Fund II

      Investment Objective: To seek capital appreciation through investments in
      a diversified portfolio of equity securities.

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.

The Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. is a diversified, open-end management
investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Strong Discovery Fund II,
Inc. ("Discovery Fund II") and Strong International Stock Fund II (the
"International Stock Fund II") were incorporated in Wisconsin and may only be
purchased by the separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of
funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Strong
Capital Management, Inc. is the investment advisor for each of the Funds.

     - Discovery Fund II, Inc.

      Investment Objective: To seek maximum capital appreciation through
      investments in a diversified portfolio of securities. The Fund normally
      emphasizes investment in equity securities and may invest up to 100% of
      its total assets in equity securities including common stock, preferred
      stocks and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks.
      Although the Fund normally emphasizes investment in equity securities, the
      Fund has the flexibility to invest in any type of security that the
      Advisor believes has the potential for capital appreciation including up
      to 100% of its total assets in debt obligations, including intermediate to
      long-term corporate or U.S. government debt securities.

     - International Stock Fund II

      Investment Objective: To seek capital growth by investing primarily in the
      equity securities of issuers located outside the United States.

   
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust (Formerly Van Eck Investment Trust)
    

Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust is an open-end management investment company
organized as a "business trust" under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on January 7, 1987. Shares of the Trust are offered only to
separate accounts of various insurance companies to fund benefits of variable
insurance and annuity policies. The assets of the Trust are managed by Van Eck
Associates Corporation.

     - Worldwide Bond Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek high total return through a flexible policy
      of investing globally, primarily in debt securities. The portfolio does
      not invest in junk bonds.

   
     - Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund

      Investment Objective: Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing
      primarily in equity securities in emerging markets around the world. The
      Fund specifically emphasizes investment in countries that, compared to the
      world's major economies, exhibit relatively low gross national product per
      capita, as well as the potential for rapid economic growth. Peregrine
      Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited serves as sub-investment adviser to
      this Fund.
    


                                       18
<PAGE>   22

   
     - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
      globally, primarily in "Hard Assets Securities". Hard assets are tangible,
      finite assets, such as real estate, energy, timber, and industrial and
      precious metals. Income is a secondary consideration.
    

Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust

      The Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust is an open-end
diversified management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business
trust on June 3, 1985. The Trust offers shares in separate funds which are sold
only to insurance companies to provide funding for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts. Van Kampen American Capital Asset
Management, Inc. serves as the Fund's investment adviser.

     - Real Estate Securities Fund

      Investment Objective: To seek long-term capital growth by investing in a
      portfolio of securities of companies operating in the real estate industry
      ("Real Estate Securities"). Current income is a secondary consideration.
      Real Estate Securities include equity securities, common stocks and
      convertible securities, as well as non-convertible preferred stocks and
      debt securities of real estate industry companies. A "real estate industry
      company" is a company that derives at least 50% of its assets (marked to
      market), gross income or net profits from the ownership, construction,
      management or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate.
      Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Fund's total assets
      will be invested in Real Estate Securities, primarily equity securities of
      real estate investment trusts. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total
      assets in securities issued by foreign issuers, some or all of which may
      also be Real Estate Securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund
      will achieve its investment objective.

Warburg Pincus Trust

The Warburg Pincus Trust ("Trust") is an open-end management investment company
organized in March 1995 as a business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. The Trust offers its shares to insurance companies for
allocation to separate accounts for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life contracts. Trust portfolios are managed by Warburg Pincus
Counsellors, Inc. ("Counsellors.")

     - International Equity Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
      primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of equity securities of
      companies, wherever organized, that in the judgment of "Counsellors" have
      their principal business activities and interests outside the United
      States. The Portfolio will ordinarily invest substantially all of its
      assets, but no less than 65% of its total assets, in common stocks,
      warrants and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common
      stocks. The Portfolio intends to invest principally in the securities of
      financially strong companies with opportunities for growth within growing
      international economies and markets through increased earning power and
      improved utilization or recognition of assets.

   
     - Post-Venture Capital Portfolio

      Investment Objective: The Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital by
      investing primarily in equity securities of issuers in their post-venture
      capital stage of development and pursues an aggressive investment
      strategy. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at
      least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of "post-venture
      capital companies." A post-venture capital company is one that has
      received venture capital financing either (a) during the early stages of
      the company's existence or the early stages of the development of a new
      product or service or (b) as a part of a restructuring or recapitalization
      of the company. The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its assets in
      venture capital and other investment funds.
    

     - Small Company Growth Portfolio

      Investment Objective: To seek capital growth by investing in a portfolio
      of equity securities of small-sized domestic companies. The Portfolio
      ordinarily will invest at least 65% of its total assets in common stocks
      or warrants of small-sized companies (i.e., companies having stock market
      capitalizations of between $25 million and $1 billion at the time of
      purchase) that represent attractive opportunities for capital growth. The
      Portfolio intends to invest primarily in companies whose securities are
      traded on domestic stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. The
      Portfolio's investments will be made on the basis of their equity
      characteristics and securities ratings generally will not be a factor in
      the selection process.


                                       19
<PAGE>   23

Reinvestment

The Underlying Mutual Fund options described above have as a policy the
distribution of dividends in the form of additional shares (or fractions
thereof) of the Underlying Mutual Funds. The distribution of additional shares
will not affect the number of Accumulation Units attributable to a particular
Policy (see "Allocation of Cash Value").

Transfers

The Policy Owner may transfer Cash Value among the sub-accounts of the Variable
Account and the Fixed Account. A transfer will take effect on the date of
receipt of written notice at the Company's Home Office. Transfer requests must
be in a written form acceptable to the Company.

After the first Policy Anniversary, the Policy Owner may annually transfer a
portion of the value of the Variable Account to the Fixed Account, without
penalty or adjustment. The Policy Owner may request a transfer of up to 100% of
the Cash Value from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account. The Company
reserves the right to restrict transfers to the Fixed Account to 25% of the Cash
Value. The Policy Owner's Cash Value in each sub-account will be determined as
of the date the transfer request is received in the Home Office in good order.

The Policy Owner may transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account once each Policy Year, without penalty or adjustment. The
Policy Owner may request a transfer of up to 100% of the Cash Value in the Fixed
Account to the Variable sub-accounts. The Company reserves the right to restrict
the amount of such transfers to 25% of the Cash Value in the Fixed Account.

   
Transfers may be made either in writing or, in states allowing such transfers,
by telephone. This telephone exchange privilege is made available to Policy
Owners automatically without the Policy Owner's election. The Company will
employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include the following: requesting
identifying information, such as name, contract number, Social Security Number,
and/or personal identification number; tape recording all telephone
transactions; or providing written confirmation thereof to both the Policy Owner
and any agent of record, at the last address of record; or such other procedures
as the Company may deem reasonable. Although failure to follow reasonable
procedures may result in the Company's liability for any losses to unauthorized
or fraudulent telephone transfers, the Company will not be liable for following
instructions communicated by telephone which it reasonably believes to be
genuine. Any losses incurred pursuant to actions taken by the Company in
reliance on telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine shall be
borne by the Policy Owner. The Company may withdraw the telephone exchange
privilege upon 30 days' written notice to the Policy Owners.
    

Policy Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost Averaging Agreement with the
Company (see "Dollar Cost Averaging") may transfer from the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account under the terms of that agreement.

Dollar Cost Averaging

   
The Policy Owner may direct the Company to automatically transfer from the NSAT
Money Market Fund or the Fixed Account to any other sub-account within the
Variable Account on a monthly basis or as frequently as otherwise authorized by
the Company. This service is intended to allow the Policy Owner to utilize
Dollar Cost Averaging, a long-term investment program which provides for
regular, level investments over time. The Company makes no guarantees that
Dollar Cost Averaging will result in a profit or protect against loss. To
qualify for Dollar Cost Averaging there must be a minimum total Cash Value, less
Policy Indebtedness, of $15,000. The minimum monthly Dollar Cost Averaging
transfer is $100. In addition, Dollar Cost Averaging monthly transfers from the
Fixed Account must be equal to or less than 1/30th of the Fixed Account value
when the Dollar Cost Averaging program is requested. Transfers out of the Fixed
Account, other than for Dollar Cost Averaging, may be subject to certain
additional restrictions (see "Transfers"). A written election of this service,
on a form provided by the Company, must be completed by the Policy Owner in
order to begin transfers. Once elected, transfers from the Money Market Fund or
the Fixed Account will be processed monthly until either the value in the Money
Market Fund or the Fixed Account is completely depleted or the Policy Owner
instructs the Company in writing to cancel the transfers.
    

The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Dollar Cost Averaging
upon 30 days written notice to Policy Owners however, any discontinuation will
not affect Dollar Cost Averaging programs already commenced. The Company also
reserves the right to assess a processing fee for this service.


                                       20
<PAGE>   24

Substitution of Securities

If shares of the above Underlying Mutual Funds should no longer be available for
investment by the Variable Account or, if in the judgment of the Company's
management further investment in such Underlying Mutual Funds should become
inappropriate, the Company may eliminate Sub-Accounts, combine two or more
Sub-Accounts, or substitute one or more Underlying Mutual Funds for other
Underlying Mutual Fund shares already purchased or to be purchased in the future
by Net Premium payments under the Policy. No substitution of securities in the
Variable Account may take place without prior approval of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and under such requirements as it and any state insurance
department may impose.

Voting Rights

Voting rights under the Policies apply only with respect to Cash Value allocated
to the sub-accounts of the Variable Account.

In accordance with its view of present applicable law, the Company will vote the
shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds held in the Variable Account at regular
and special meetings of the shareholders of the Underlying Mutual Funds. These
shares will be voted in accordance with instructions received from Policy Owners
who have an interest in the Variable Account. If the Investment Company Act of
1940 or any regulation thereunder should be amended or if the present
interpretation thereof should change, and as a result the Company determines
that it is permitted to vote the shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds in its
own right, it may elect to do so.

   
The Policy Owner shall be the person who has the voting interest under the
Contract. The number of underlying Mutual Fund shares attributable to each
Policy Owner is determined by dividing the Policy Owner's interest in each
respective Sub-Account of the Variable Account by the net asset value of the
underlying Mutual Fund corresponding to the Sub-Account. The number of shares
which a person has the right to vote will be determined as of the date to be
chosen by the Company not more than 90 days prior to the meeting of the
underlying Mutual Fund. Each person having a voting interest will receive
periodic reports relating to the underlying Mutual Fund, proxy material and a
form with which to give such voting instructions.

Voting instructions will be solicited by written communication at least 21 days
prior to such meeting. Underlying Mutual Fund shares held in the Variable
Account as to which no timely instructions are received will be voted by the
Company in the same proportion as the voting instructions which are received
with respect to all Contracts participating in the Variable Account.

Notwithstanding contrary Policy Owner voting instructions, the Company may vote
underlying Mutual Fund shares in any manner necessary to enable the underlying
Mutual Fund to: (1) make or refrain from making any change in the investments or
investment policies for any of the underyling Mutual Funds, if required by an
insurance regulatory authority; (2) refrain from making any change in the
investment policies or any investment adviser or principal underwriter of any
portfolio which may be initiated by Policy Owners or the underlying Mutual
Fund's Board of Directors, provided the Company's disapproval of the change is
reasonable and, in the case of a change in the investment policies or investment
adviser, based on a good faith determination that such change would be contrary
to state law or otherwise inappropriate in light of the portfolio's objective
and purposes; or (3) enter into or refrain from entering into any advisory
agreement or underwriting contract, if required by any insurance requlatory
authority
    

                         INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLICIES

Underwriting and Issuance

- -Minimum Requirements for Issuance of a Policy

The Policies are designed to provide life insurance coverage and the flexibility
to vary the amount and frequency of premium payments. At issue, the Policy Owner
selects the initial specified amount and premium. The minimum Specified Amount
is $50,000 ($100,000 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey). Policies may be issued to
Insureds with issue ages 80 or younger. Before issuing any Policy, the Company
requires satisfactory evidence of insurability which may include a medical
examination.

- -Premium Payments

The Initial Premium for a Policy is payable in full at the Company's Home
Office. Upon payment of an initial premium, temporary insurance may be provided,
subject to a maximum amount. The effective date of permanent insurance coverage
is dependent upon completion of all underwriting requirements, payment of the
Initial Premium, and delivery of the Policy while the Insured is still living.


                                       21
<PAGE>   25

Premiums, other than the Initial Premium, may be made at any time while the
Policy is in force subject to the limits described below. During the first three
Policy Years, the total premium payments less any Policy Indebtedness, less any
partial surrenders, and less any partial surrender fee must be greater than or
equal to the Minimum Premium requirement in order to guarantee the Policy
remains in force. The Minimum Premium requirement is equal to the monthly
Minimum Premium multiplied by the number of completed policy months. The monthly
Minimum Premium is shown on the Policy data page.

Each premium payment must be at least equal to the monthly Minimum Premium.
Additional premium payments may be made at any time while the Policy is in
force. However, the Company reserves the right to require satisfactory evidence
of insurability before accepting any additional premium payment which results in
an increase in the net amount at risk. Also, the Company will refund any portion
of any premium payment which is determined to be in excess of the premium limit
established by law to qualify the Policy as a contract for life insurance. The
Company may also require that any existing Policy Indebtedness is repaid prior
to accepting any additional premium payments. Additional premium payments or
other changes to the contract, may jeopardize the Policy's non-modified
endowment status. The Company will monitor premiums paid and other policy
transactions and will notify the Policy Owner when non-modified endowment
contract status is in jeopardy (see "Tax Matters").


Allocation of Cash Value

   
At the time a Policy is issued, its Cash Value will be based on the Nationwide
Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund value or the Fixed Account as if the
Policy had been issued and the Initial Net Premium invested on the date such
premium was received in good order by the Company. When the Policy is issued,
the Net Premiums will be allocated to the Nationwide Separate Account Trust
Money Market Fund (for any Net Premiums allocated to any other sub-account on
the Application) or to the Fixed Account until the expiration of the period in
which the Policy Owner may exercise his or her short-term right to cancel the
Policy. Net Premiums not designated for the Fixed Account will be placed in the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund. At the expiration of the
period in which the Policy Owner may exercise his or her short term right to
cancel the Policy, shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds specified by the Policy
Owner are purchased at net asset value for the respective sub-account(s). The
Policy Owner may change the allocation of Net Premiums or may transfer Cash
Value from one sub-account to another, subject to such terms and conditions as
may be imposed by each Underlying Mutual Fund and as set forth in the
prospectus. Net Premiums allocated to the Fixed Account at the time of
application may not be transferred prior to the first Policy Anniversary (see
"Transfers" and "Investments of the Variable Account").
    

The designation of investment allocations will be made by the prospective Policy
Owner at the time of application for a Policy. The Policy Owner may change the
way in which future Net Premiums are allocated by giving written notice to the
Company. All percentage allocations must be in whole numbers, and must be at
least 5%. The sum of allocations must equal 100%.

Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy

   
A Policy may be returned for cancellation and a full refund of premium within 10
days after the Policy is received, within 45 days after the application for
insurance is signed, or within 10 days after the Company mails or delivers a
Notice of Right of Withdrawal, whichever is latest. In order to cancel the
Policy, the Policy can be mailed or delivered to the registered representative
who sold it, or to the Company. Immediately after such mailing or delivery, the
Policy will be deemed void from the beginning. The Company will refund the total
premiums paid within seven days after it receives the Policy. The scope of this
right may vary by state. The Policy provision approved or used in a particular
state will be disclosed in any Policy issued.
    

                                 POLICY CHARGES

Deductions from Premiums

The Company deducts a sales load from each premium payment received not to
exceed 3.5% of each premium payment. On a current basis, the sales load is
reduced to 1.5% on any portion of the annual premium paid in excess of the
annual Break Point Premium. The total sales load actually deducted from any
Policy will be equal to the sum of this front-end sales load plus any sales
surrender charge that may be deducted from Policies that are surrendered.

The Company also pays any state premium taxes attributable to a particular
policy when incurred by the Company. The Company expects to pay an average state
premium tax rate of approximately 2.5% of premiums for all states, although such
tax rates range from 0% to 4%. To reimburse the Company for the payment of state
premium taxes associated with the Policies, the Company deducts a charge for
state premium taxes equal to 2.5% of all premium payments received. This charge
may be more or less than the amount actually assessed by the state in which a
particular Policy Owner lives. The Company does not expect to make a profit from
this change.


                                       22
<PAGE>   26

Surrender Charges

The Company will deduct a Surrender Charge from the Policy's Cash Value for any
Policy surrendered during the first nine Policy Years. The maximum initial
Surrender Charge varies by issue age, sex, Specified Amount and underwriting
classification and is calculated based on the initial Specified Amount. The
following table illustrates the maximum initial Surrender Charge per $1,000 of
initial Specified Amount for Policies which are issued on a standard basis (see
Appendix 1 for specific examples).

                    Initial Specified Amount $50,000-$99,999

Issue             Male              Female              Male             Female
 Age          Non-Tobacco        Non-Tobacco          Standard          Standard
 ---          -----------        -----------          --------          --------

 25               $7.776             $7.521             $8.369            $7.818
 35                8.817              8.398              9.811             8.891
 45               12.191             11.396             13.887            12.169
 55               15.636             14.011             18.415            15.116
 65               22.295             19.086             26.577            20.641

                       Initial Specified Amount $100,000+

Issue             Male              Female              Male             Female
 Age          Non-Tobacco        Non-Tobacco          Standard          Standard
 ---          -----------        -----------          --------          --------

 25               $5.776             $5.521             $6.369            $5.818
 35                6.817              6.398              7.811             6.891
 45                9.691              8.896             11.387             9.669
 55               13.136             11.511             15.915            12.616
 65               21.295             18.086             25.577            19.641

The Surrender Charge is comprised of two components: an underwriting surrender
charge and sales surrender charge. The underwriting surrender charge varies by
issue age in the following manner:

                              Charge per $1,000 of
                            Initial Specified Amount

      Issue            Specified Amounts           Specified Amounts
       Age            less than $100,000           $100,000 or more
       ---            ------------------           ----------------
       0-35                  $6.00                       $4.00
      36-55                   7.50                        5.00
      56-80                   7.50                        6.50

The underwriting surrender charge is designed to cover the administrative
expenses associated with underwriting and issuing the Policy, including the
costs of processing applications, conducting medical exams, determining
insurability and the Insured's underwriting class, and establishing policy
records. The Company does not expect to profit from the underwriting surrender
charges. The Surrender Charge may be insufficient to recover certain expenses
related to the sale of the Policies. Unrecovered expenses are born by the
Company's general assets which may include profits, if any, from Mortality and
Expense Risk Charges (see "Deductions from the Sub-Accounts"). Additional
premiums and/or income earned on assets in the Variable Account have no effect
on these charges. The remainder of the Surrender Charge which is not
attributable to the underwriting surrender charge component represents the sales
surrender charge component. In no event will this component exceed 26 1/2% of
the lesser of the Guideline Level Premium required in the first year or the
premiums actually paid in the first year. The purpose of the sales surrender
charge component is to reimburse the Company for some of the expenses incurred
in the distribution of the Policies. The Company also deducts 3.5% of each
premium for sales load (see "Deductions from Premiums").


                                       23
<PAGE>   27

- -Reductions to Surrender Charges

The Surrender Charges are reduced in subsequent Policy Years in the following
manner:

                     Surrender Charge                          Surrender Charge
  Completed         as a % of Initial         Completed        as a % of Initial
Policy Years        Surrender Charges        Policy Years      Surrender Charges
- ------------        -----------------        ------------      -----------------

      0                    100%                   5                   60%
      1                    100%                   6                   50%
      2                     90%                   7                   40%
      3                     80%                   8                   30%
      4                     70%                   9+                   0%

Special guaranteed maximum Surrender Charges apply in Pennsylvania (see Appendix
1).

Deductions from Cash Value

The Company also deducts the following charges from the Policy's Cash Value on
the Policy Date and each subsequent Monthly Anniversary Day:

      1.    monthly cost of insurance charges; plus

   
      2.    monthly cost of any additional benefits provided by riders to the
            Policy; plus

      3.    an administrative expense charge. This charge is $12.50 per month in
            the first year and $5 per month in renewal years. The charge in
            renewal years may be increased at the sole discretion of the Company
            but may not exceed $7.50 per month; plus
    

      4.    the increase charge per $1000 applied to any increase in the
            Specified Amount (see "Specified Amount Increases"). The increase
            charge is $2.04 per year per $1000 and is shown on the Policy data
            page. This charge is designed to cover the costs associated with
            increasing the Specified Amount (see "Policy Charges"). This charge
            will be deducted on each Monthly Anniversary Day for the first 12
            months after the increase becomes effective.

These deductions will be charged proportionately to the Cash Value in each
Variable Account sub-account and the Fixed Account.

- -Monthly Cost of Insurance

The monthly cost of insurance charge for each policy month is determined by
multiplying the monthly cost of insurance rate by the net amount at risk. The
net amount at risk is the difference between the death benefit and the Policy's
Cash Value, each calculated at the beginning of the policy month.

If death benefit Option 1 is in effect and there have been increases in the
Specified Amount, then the Cash Value shall first be considered a part of the
initial Specified Amount. If the Cash Value exceeds the initial Specified
Amount, it shall then be considered a part of the additional increases in
Specified Amount resulting from the increases in the order of the increases.

Monthly cost of insurance rates will not exceed those guaranteed in the Policy.
Guaranteed cost of insurance rates for Policies issued on Specified Amounts less
than $100,000 are based on the 1980 Commissioners Extended Term Mortality Table,
Age Last Birthday (1980 CET). Guaranteed cost of insurance rates for Policies
issued on Specified Amounts $100,000 or more are based on the 1980 Commissioners
Standard Ordinary Mortality Table, Age Last Birthday (1980 CSO). Guaranteed cost
of insurance rates for Policies issued on a substandard basis are based on
appropriate percentage multiples of the 1980 CSO. These mortality tables are sex
distinct. In addition, separate mortality tables will be used for standard and
non-tobacco.

For Policies issued in Texas on a standard basis ("Special Class - Standard" in
Texas), guaranteed cost of insurance rates for Specified Amounts less than
$100,000 are based on 130% of the 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality
Table, Age Last Birthday (1980 CSO).

The rate class of an Insured may affect the cost of insurance rate. The Company
currently places Insureds into both standard rate classes and substandard
classes that involve a higher mortality risk. In an otherwise identical Policy,
an Insured in the standard rate class will have a lower cost of insurance than
an Insured in a rate class with higher mortality risks. The Company may also
issue certain Policies on a "Non Medical" basis to certain categories of
individuals. Due to the underwriting criteria established for Policies issued on
a Non Medical basis, actual rates will be higher than the current cost of
insurance rates being charged under Policies that are medically underwritten.


                                       24
<PAGE>   28

- -Monthly Administrative Charge

   
The Company deducts a monthly Administrative Expense Charge to reimburse it for
certain expenses related to maintenance of the Policies, accounting and record
keeping and periodic reporting to Policy Owners. This charge is designed only to
reimburse the Company for certain actual administrative expenses. The Company
does not expect to recover from this charge any amount in excess of aggregate
maintenance expenses. Currently, this charge is $12.50 per month in the first
year, $5 per month in renewal years. The Company may at its sole discretion
increase this charge. However, the Company guarantees that this charge will
never exceed $25 per month in the first year and $7.50 per month in renewal
years.
    

- -Increase Charge

The Increase Charge is comprised of two components: an underwriting and
administration charge as well as a sales charge (see "Specified Amount
Increases"). The underwriting and administration charge is $1.50 per year per
$1,000. This charge is to cover the cost of underwriting the increases and any
processing expenses. Nationwide Life does not expect to profit from this charge.
The sales charge is equal to .54 per year per $1000 and reimburses the Company
for expenses incurred in distribution.


Deductions from the Sub-Accounts

The Company assumes certain risks for guaranteeing the Mortality and Expense
Charges. The mortality risk assumed under the Policies is that the Insured may
not live as long as expected. The expense risk assumed is that the actual
expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Policies may be greater than
expected. In addition, the Company assumes risks associated with the
non-recovery of policy issue, underwriting and other administrative expenses due
to Policies which lapse or are surrendered in the early Policy Years.

   
To compensate the Company for assuming these risks associated with the Policies,
the Company deducts on a daily basis from the assets of the Variable Account a
charge to provide for Mortality and Expense risks. This charge is equivalent to
an annual effective rate of 0.80% of the daily net assets of the Variable
Account. On each Policy Anniversary beginning with the 10th, the Mortality and
Expense Risk Charge is reduced to 0.50% on an annual basis of the daily net
assets of the Variable Account, provided the Cash Surrender Value is $25,000 or
more on such anniversary. (For Policies issued in New York, such reduction
occurs regardless of the amount of Cash Surrender Value on such anniversary.) To
the extent that future levels of mortality and expenses are less than or equal
to those expected, the Company may realize a profit from this charge. The
Surrender Charge may be insufficient to recover certain expenses related to the
sale of the Policies - unrecovered expenses are borne by the Company's general
assets which may include profits, if any, from mortality and expense risk
charges (see "Surrender Charge").
    

The Company does not currently assess any charge for income taxes incurred by
the Company as a result of the operations of the sub-accounts of the Variable
Account (see "Taxation of the Company"). The Company reserves the right to
assess a charge for such taxes against the Variable Account if the Company
determines that such taxes will be incurred.

   
Reduction of Charges

The Policy is available for purchase by individuals, corporations and other
groups. For group or sponsored arrangements (including employees of the Company
and their family members) and for special exchange programs which the Company
may make available from time to time, the Company reserves the right to reduce
or eliminate the sales load, surrender charge, monthly administrative charge,
monthly cost of insurance charges or other charges normally assessed on certain
multiple life cases where it is expected that the size or nature of such cases
will result in savings of sales, underwriting, administrative or other costs.

Eligibility for and the amount of these reductions will be determined by a
number of factors, including the number of Insureds, the total premium expected
to be paid, total assets under management for the Policy Owner, the nature of
the relationship among individual Insureds, the purpose for which the Policies
are being purchased, the expected persistency of individual Policies, and any
other circumstances which, in the opinion of the Company is rationally related
to the expected reduction in expenses. The extent and nature of reductions may
change from time to time. Any variations in the charge structure will be
determined in a uniform manner reflecting differences in costs of services and
not unfairly discriminatory to Policy Owners.
    


                                       25
<PAGE>   29

                            HOW THE CASH VALUE VARIES

On any date during the Policy Year, the Cash Value equals the Cash Value on the
preceding Valuation Date, plus any Net Premium applied since the previous
Valuation Date, minus any partial surrenders, plus or minus any investment
results, and less any Policy Charges.

There is no guaranteed Cash Value. The Cash Value will vary with the investment
experience of the Variable Account and/or the daily crediting of interest in the
Fixed Account and Policy Loan Account depending on the allocation of Cash Value
by the Policy Owner.

How the Investment Experience is Determined

The Cash Value in each sub-account is converted to Accumulation Units of that
sub-account. The conversion is accomplished by dividing the amount of Cash Value
allocated to a sub-account by the value of an Accumulation Unit for the
sub-account of the Valuation Period during which the allocation occurs.

The value of an Accumulation Unit for each sub-account was arbitrarily set
initially at $10 when the Underlying Mutual Fund shares in that sub-account were
available for purchase. The value for any subsequent Valuation Period is
determined by multiplying the Accumulation Unit value for each sub-account for
the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment Factor for the
sub-account during the subsequent Valuation Period. The value of an Accumulation
Unit may increase or decrease from Valuation Period to Valuation Period. The
number of Accumulation Units will not change as a result of investment
experience.

Net Investment Factor

The Net Investment Factor for any Valuation Period is determined by dividing (a)
by (b) and subtracting (c) from the result where:

(a)   is the net of:

      (1)   the net asset value per share of the Underlying Mutual Fund held in
            the sub-account determined at the end of the current Valuation
            Period, plus

      (2)   the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain distributions
            made by the Underlying Mutual Fund held in the sub-account if the
            "ex-dividend" date occurs during the current Valuation Period.

(b)   is the net of:

      (1)   the net asset value per share of the Underlying Mutual Fund held in
            the sub-account determined at the end of the immediately preceding
            Valuation Period, plus or minus

      (2)   the per share charge or credit, if any, for any taxes reserved for
            in the immediately preceding Valuation Period (see "Charge for Tax
            Provisions").

   
(c)   is a factor representing the daily Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
      deducted from the Variable Account. Such factor is equal to an annual rate
      of 0.80% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. On each
      Policy Anniversary beginning with the 10th, the mortality and expense risk
      charge is reduced to 0.50% on an annual basis of the daily net assets of
      the Variable Account, provided the Cash Surrender Value is $25,000 or more
      on such anniversary. (For Policies issued in New York, such reduction
      occurs regardless of the amount or cash surrender value on such
      anniversary.)
    

For Underlying Mutual Funds that credit dividends on a daily basis and pay such
dividends once a month, the Net Investment Factor allows for the monthly
reinvestment of these daily dividends.

The Net Investment Factor may be greater or less than one; therefore, the value
of an Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease. It should be noted that
changes in the Net Investment Factor may not be directly proportional to changes
in the net asset value of Underlying Mutual Fund shares, because of the
deduction for Mortality and Expense Risk Charge, and any charge or credit for
tax reserves.

Valuation of Assets

Underlying Mutual Fund shares in the Variable Account will be valued at their
net asset value.

Determining the Cash Value

The sum of the value of all Variable Account Accumulation Units attributable to
the Policy and amounts credited to the Fixed Account is the Cash Value. The
number of Accumulation Units credited per each sub-account are determined by
dividing the net amount allocated to the sub-account by the Accumulation Unit
Value for the sub-account for the Valuation Period during which the premium is
received by the Company. If part or all of the Cash Value is surrendered or
charges or deductions are made against the Cash Value, an appropriate number of
Accumulation Units from the Variable Account and an appropriate amount from the


                                       26
<PAGE>   30

Fixed Account will be deducted in the same proportion that the Policy Owner's
interest in the Variable Account and the Fixed Account bears to the total Cash
Value.

The Cash Value in the Fixed Account and the Policy Loan Account is credited with
interest daily at an effective annual rate which the Company periodically
declares. The annual effective rate will never be less than 4%. Upon request,
the Company will inform the Policy Owner of the then applicable rates for each
account.

   
Valuation Date and Valuation Period

A Valuation Date is each day that the New York Stock Exchange and the Company's
Home Office are open for business or any other day during which there is
sufficient degree of trading of the Variable Accounts' Underlying Mutual Fund
shares held by the Variable Account, such that the current net asset value of
the Accumulation Units might be materially affected. A Valuation Period is the
period commencing at the close of a Valuation Date and ending at the close of
business for the next succeeding Valuation Date.
    

                        SURRENDERING THE POLICY FOR CASH

Right to Surrender

The Policy Owner may surrender the Policy in full at any time while the Insured
is living and receive its Cash Surrender Value. The cancellation will be
effective as of the date the Company receives a proper written request for
cancellation and the Policy. Such written request must be signed and, where
permitted, the signature guaranteed by a member firm of the New York, American,
Boston, Midwest, Philadelphia or Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a commercial bank
or a savings and loan, which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or other eligible guarantor institution as defined by federal
securities laws and regulations. In some cases, the Company may require
additional documentation of a customary nature.

Cash Surrender Value

The Cash Surrender Value increases or decreases daily to reflect the investment
experience of the Variable Account and the daily crediting of interest in the
Fixed Account and the Policy Loan Account. The Cash Surrender Value equals the
Policy's Cash Value, next computed after the date the Company receives a proper
written request for surrender, minus any charges, Policy Indebtedness or other
deductions due on that date, which may also include a Surrender Charge.

Partial Surrenders

After the Policy has been in force for one year, the Policy Owner may request a
partial surrender. Partial surrenders will be permitted only if they satisfy the
following requirements:

      1.    The minimum partial surrender is $500;

      2.    The partial surrender may not reduce the Specified Amount to less
            than $50,000;

      3.    After the partial surrender, the Cash Surrender Value is greater
            than $500 or an amount equal to three times the current monthly
            deduction if higher;

      4.    The maximum total partial surrenders in any policy year are limited
            to 10% of the total premium payments. On a current basis, this
            requirement is waived in years 15 and beyond provided the Cash
            Surrender Value is $10,000 or more after the withdrawal; and

      5.    After the partial surrender, the Policy continues to qualify as life
            insurance.

When a partial surrender is made, the Cash Value is reduced by the amount of the
partial surrender. Under Death Benefit Option 1, the specified amount is reduced
by the amount of the partial surrender, unless the Death Benefit is based on the
applicable percentage of the Cash Value. In such a case, a partial surrender
will decrease the specified amount by the amount by which the partial surrender
exceeds the difference between the Death Benefit and the specified amount.

Surrender Charges will be waived for any partial surrenders which satisfy the
above conditions. Certain partial surrenders may result in currently taxable
income and tax penalties (see "Tax Matters").

Maturity Proceeds

The Maturity Date is the Policy Anniversary on or next following the Insured's
95th birthday. The maturity proceeds will be payable to the Policy Owner on the
Maturity Date provided the Policy is still in force. The Maturity Proceeds will
be equal to the amount of the Policy's Cash Value, less any Indebtedness.


                                       27
<PAGE>   31

Income Tax Withholding

Federal law requires the Company to withhold income tax from any portion of
surrender proceeds that is subject to tax, unless the Policy Owner advises the
Company, in writing, of his or her request not to withhold.

If the Policy Owner requests that the Company not withhold taxes, or if the
taxes withheld are insufficient, the Policy Owner may be liable for payment of
an estimated tax. The Policy Owner should consult his or her tax advisor.

In certain employer-sponsored life insurance arrangements, including equity
split dollar arrangements, participants may be required to report for income tax
purposes, one or more of the following: (1) the value each year of the life
insurance protection provided; (2) an amount equal to any employer-paid
premiums; or (3) some or all of the amount by which the current value of the
contract exceeds the employer's interest in the contract. Participants should
consult with the sponsor of the administrator of the plan, and/or with their
personal tax or legal advisers, to determine the tax consequences, if any, of
their employer-sponsored life insurance arrangements.

                                  POLICY LOANS

Taking a Policy Loan

After the first Policy Year, the Policy Owner may take a Policy loan using the
Policy as security. Maximum Policy Indebtedness is limited to 90% of the Cash
Value less Surrender Charge less interest due on the next Policy Anniversary.
Maximum Policy Indebtedness, in Texas, is limited to 90% of the Cash Value in
the sub-accounts and 100% of the Cash Value in the Fixed Account less Surrender
Charge less interest due on the next Policy Anniversary. The Company will not
grant a loan for an amount less than $200. Should the Death Proceeds become
payable, the Policy be surrendered, or the Policy mature while a loan is
outstanding, the amount of Policy Indebtedness will be deducted from the death
benefit, Cash Surrender Value or the maturity value, respectively.

Any request for a Policy loan must be in written form satisfactory to the
Company. The request must be signed and, where permitted, the signature
guaranteed by a member firm of the New York, American, Boston, Midwest,
Philadelphia or Pacific Stock Exchange; or by a Commercial Bank or a Savings and
Loan which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Certain
policy loans may result in currently taxable income and tax penalties (see "Tax
Matters").

A Policy Owner considering the use of policy loans in connection with his or her
retirement income plan should consult his or her personal tax adviser regarding
potential tax consequences that may arise if necessary payments are not made to
keep the Policy from lapsing. The amount of such payments necessary to prevent
the Policy from lapsing would increase with age (see "Tax Matters").

Effect on Investment Performance

   
When a loan is made, an amount equal to the amount of the loan is transferred
from the Variable Account to the Policy Loan Account. If the assets relating to
a Policy are held in more than one sub-account, withdrawals from sub-accounts
will be made in proportion to the assets in each Variable Account sub-account at
the time of the loan. Policy loans will be transferred from the Fixed Account
only when insufficient amounts are available in the Variable Account
sub-accounts. The amount taken out of the Variable Account will not be affected
by the Variable Account's investment experience while the loan is outstanding.
    

Interest

On a current basis, policy loans are credited with an annual effective rate of
5.1% during policy years 2 through 14 and an annual effective rate of 6% during
the 15th and subsequent policy years. The rate is guaranteed never to be lower
than 5.1%. The Company may change the current interest crediting rate on policy
loans at its sole discretion. The loan interest rate is 6% per year for all
Policy loans. In the event that it is determined that such loans will be
treated, as a result of the differential between the interest crediting rate and
the loan interest rate, as taxable distributions under any applicable ruling,
regulation, or court decision, the Company retains the right to increase the net
cost (by decreasing the interest crediting rate) on all subsequent policy loans
to an amount that would result in the transaction being treated as a loan under
Federal tax law. If this amount is not prescribed by such ruling, regulation, or
court decision, the amount will be that which the Company considers to be more
likely to result in the transaction being treated as a loan under Federal tax
law.

Amounts transferred to the Policy Loan Account will earn interest daily from the
date of transfer. The earned interest is transferred from the Policy Loan
Account to a Variable Account or the Fixed Account on each Policy Anniversary or
at the time of loan repayment. It will be allocated according to the Fund
allocation factors in effect at the time of the transfer.

Interest is charged daily and is payable at the end of each Policy Year or at
the time of loan repayment. Unpaid interest will be added to the existing Policy
Indebtedness as of the due date and will be charged interest at the same rate as
the rest of the Indebtedness.


                                       28
<PAGE>   32

Whenever the total Policy Indebtedness exceeds the Cash Value less
any Surrender Charges, the Company will send a notice to the Policy Owner and
the assignee, if any. The Policy will terminate without value 61 days after the
mailing of the notice unless a sufficient repayment is made during that period.
A repayment is sufficient if it is large enough to reduce the total Policy
Indebtedness to an amount equal to the total Cash Value less any Surrender
Charges plus an amount sufficient to continue the Policy in force for 3 months.

Effect on Death Benefit and Cash Value 

A Policy loan, whether or not repaid, will have a permanent effect on the Death
Benefit and Cash Value because the investment results of the Variable Account or
the Fixed Account will apply only to the non-loaned portion of the Cash Value.
The longer the loan is outstanding, the greater the effect is likely to be.
Depending on the investment results of the Variable Account or the Fixed Account
while the loan is outstanding, the effect could be favorable or unfavorable.

Repayment 

   
All or part of the Indebtedness may be repaid at any time while the Policy is in
force during the Insured's lifetime. Any payment intended as a loan repayment,
rather than a premium payment, must be identified as such. Loan repayments will
be credited to the Variable Account sub-accounts and the Fixed Account in
proportion to the Policy Owner's Underlying Mutual Fund allocation factors in
effect at the time of the repayment. Each repayment may not be less than $50.
The Company reserves the right to require that any loan repayments resulting
from Policy loans transferred from the Fixed Account must be first allocated to
the Fixed Account.
    


                          HOW THE DEATH BENEFIT VARIES

Calculation of the Death Benefit

   
At Policy issue, the Policy Owner selects the Specified Amount.
    

While the Policy is in force, the death benefit will never be less than the
Specified Amount. The death benefit may vary with the Cash Value of the Policy,
which depends on investment performance. 

The Policy Owner may choose one of two death benefit options. Under Option 1,
the death benefit will be the greater of the Specified Amount or the Applicable
Percentage of Cash Value. Under Option 1, the amount of the death benefit will
ordinarily not change for several years to reflect the investment performance
and may not change at all. If investment performance is favorable the amount of
death benefit may increase. To see how and when investment performance will
begin to affect death benefits, please see the illustrations. Under Option 2,
the death benefit will be the greater of the Specified Amount plus the Cash
Value, or the Applicable Percentage of Cash Value and will vary directly with
the investment performance.

      The term "Applicable Percentage" means:

      1.    250% when the Insured is Attained Age 40 or less at the beginning of
            a Policy Year; and
      2.    when the Insured is above Attained Age 40, the percentage shown in
            the "Applicable Percentage of Cash Value Table" shown in this
            provision.

                    APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE OF CASH VALUE TABLE

Attained      Percentage     Attained      Percentage   Attained    Percentage
   Age      of Cash Value       Age      of Cash Value    Age      of Cash Value
   ---      -------------       ---      -------------    ---      -------------

  0-40           250%           60            130%         80          105%
   41            243%           61            128%         81          105%
   42            236%           62            126%         82          105%
   43            229%           63            124%         83          105%
   44            222%           64            122%         84          105%
   45            215%           65            120%         85          105%
   46            209%           66            119%         86          105%
   47            203%           67            118%         87          105%
   48            197%           68            117%         88          105%
   49            191%           69            116%         89          105%
   50            185%           70            115%         90          105%
   51            178%           71            113%         91          104%
   52            171%           72            111%         92          103%
   53            164%           73            109%         93          102%
   54            157%           74            107%         94          101%
   55            150%           75            105%         95          100%
   56            146%           76            105%
   57            142%           77            105%
   58            138%           78            105%
   59            134%           79            105%


                                       29
<PAGE>   33

Proceeds Payable on Death

The actual Proceeds payable on the Insured's death will be the death benefit as
described above, less any Policy Indebtedness and less any unpaid Policy
Charges. Under certain circumstances, the Death Proceeds may be adjusted (see
"Incontestability", "Error in Age or Sex" and "Suicide").

                  RIGHT TO EXCHANGE FOR A FIXED BENEFIT POLICY

The Policy Owner may exchange the Policy for a flexible premium adjustable life
insurance policy offered by the Company on the Policy Date. The benefits for the
new policy will not vary with the investment experience of a separate account.
The exchange must be elected within 24 months from the Policy Date. No evidence
of insurability will be required.

The Policy Owner and Beneficiary under the new policy will be the same as those
under the exchanged Policy on the effective date of the exchange. The new policy
will have a death benefit on the exchange date not more than the death benefit
of the original Policy immediately prior to the exchange date. The new policy
will have the same Policy Date and issue age as the original Policy. The initial
Specified Amount and any increases in Specified Amount will have the same rate
class as those of the original Policy. Any Indebtedness may be transferred to
the new policy.

The exchange may be subject to an equitable adjustment in rates and values to
reflect variances, if any, in the rates and values between the two Policies.
After adjustment, if any excess is owed the Policy Owner, the Company will pay
the excess to the Policy Owner in cash. The exchange may be subject to federal
income tax withholding (see "Income Tax Withholding").

                          CHANGES OF INVESTMENT POLICY

The Company may materially change the investment policy of Variable Account. The
Company must inform the Policy Owners and obtain all necessary regulatory
approvals. Any change must be submitted to the various state insurance
departments which shall disapprove it if deemed detrimental to the interests of
the Policy Owners or if it renders the Company's operations hazardous to the
public. If a Policy Owner objects, the Policy may be converted to a
substantially comparable Nationwide General Account life insurance policy
offered by the Company on the life of the Insured. The Policy Owner has the
later of 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from the date of the investment
policy change or 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from being informed of such
change to make this conversion. The Company will not require evidence of
insurability for this conversion.

The new policy will not be affected by the investment experience of any Variable
Account. The new policy will be for an amount of insurance not exceeding the
death benefit of the Policy converted on the date of such conversion.

                                  GRACE PERIOD

- -First Three Policy Years

This Policy will not lapse during the first three Policy Years provided that on
each Monthly Anniversary Day (1) is greater than or equal to (2) where:

      (1)   Is the sum of all premiums paid to date minus any Policy
            Indebtedness, minus any partial surrenders, and minus any partial
            surrender fee; and

      (2)   Is the sum of monthly Minimum Premiums required since the Policy
            Date including the monthly Minimum Premium for the current Monthly
            Anniversary Day.

If (1) is less than (2) and the Cash Surrender Value is less than zero, a Grace
Period of 61 days from the Monthly Anniversary Day will be allowed for the
payment of sufficient premium to satisfy the Minimum Premium requirement. If
sufficient premium is not paid by the end of the Grace Period, the Policy will
lapse without value. In any event the Policy will not lapse as long as there is
a positive Cash Surrender Value.

- -Policy Years Four and After

If the Cash Surrender Value on a Monthly Anniversary Day is not sufficient to
cover the current Policy Charges, a Grace Period of 61 days from the Monthly
Anniversary Day will be allowed for the payment of sufficient premium to cover
the current Policy Charges due plus an amount equal to three times the current
monthly deduction.


                                       30
<PAGE>   34

- -All Policy Years

The Company will send such a notice at the start of the Grace Period to the
Policy Owner's last known address. If the Insured dies during the Grace Period,
the Company will pay the Death Proceeds.

                                  REINSTATEMENT

If the Grace Period ends and the Policy Owner has neither paid the required
premium nor surrendered the Policy for its Cash Surrender Value, the Policy
Owner may reinstate the Policy by:

      1.    submitting a written request at any time within 3 years after the
            end of the Grace Period and prior to the Maturity Date;

      2.    providing evidence of insurability satisfactory to the Company;

      3.    paying an amount of premium equal to the sum of the Minimum Monthly
            Premiums missed since the beginning of the Grace Period, if the
            Policy terminated in the first three policy years;

      4.    paying sufficient premium to cover all policy charges that were due
            and unpaid during the Grace Period if the Policy terminated in the
            fourth or later policy year;

      5.    paying sufficient premium to keep the Policy in force for 3 months
            from the date of reinstatement; and

      6.    paying or reinstating any Indebtedness against the Policy which
            existed at the end of the Grace Period.

The effective date of a reinstated Policy will be the Monthly Anniversary Day on
or next following the date the application for reinstatement is approved by the
Company. If the Policy is reinstated, the Cash Value on the date of
reinstatement, but prior to applying any premiums or loan repayments received,
will be set equal to the lesser of:

      1.    the Cash Value at the end of the Grace Period; or

      2.    the Surrender Charge for the Policy Year in which the Policy was
            reinstated.

Unless the Policy Owner has provided otherwise, all amounts will be allocated
based on the Fund allocation factors in effect at the start of the Grace Period.

                            THE FIXED ACCOUNT OPTION

   
A Policy Owner may elect to allocate or transfer all or part of the Cash Value
to the Fixed Account and the amount allocated or transferred becomes part of the
Company's General Account. The Company's General Account consists of all assets
of the Company other than those in the Variable Account and in other separate
accounts that have been or may be established by the Company. Subject to
applicable law, the Company has sole discretion over the investment of the
assets of the General Account, and Policy Owners do not share in the investment
experience of those assets.
    

Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the Company's
General Account have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the General Account has not been registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, neither the General Account nor any
interests therein are subject to the provisions of these Acts, and the Company
has been advised that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has
not reviewed the disclosures in this prospectus relating to the Fixed Account
option. Disclosures regarding the General Account may, however, be subject to
certain generally applicable provisions of the federal securities laws relating
to the accuracy and completeness of statements made in prospectuses.

The Company guarantees that the part of the Cash Value invested under the Fixed
Account option will accrue interest daily at an effective annual rate that the
Company declares periodically. The Fixed Account crediting rate will not be less
than an effective annual rate of 4%. Upon request the Company will inform a
Policy Owner of the then applicable rate. The Company is not obligated to credit
interest at a higher rate.

                     CHANGES IN EXISTING INSURANCE COVERAGE

The Policy Owner may request certain changes in the insurance coverage under the
Policy. Any request must be in writing and received at the Company's Home
Office. No change will take effect unless the Cash Surrender Value, after the
change, is sufficient to keep the Policy in force for at least 3 months.


                                       31
<PAGE>   35

Specified Amount Increases

After the first Policy Year, the Policy Owner may request an increase to the
Specified Amount. Any increase will be subject to the following conditions:

      1.    the request must be applied for in writing;

      2.    satisfactory evidence of insurability must be provided;

      3.    the increase must be for a minimum of $10,000;

      4.    the Cash Surrender Value is sufficient to continue the Policy in
            force for at least 3 months; and

      5.    age limits are the same as for a new issue.

Any approved increase will have an effective date of the Monthly Anniversary Day
on or next following the date the Company approves the supplemental application.
The Company reserves the right to limit the number of Specified Amount increases
to one each Policy Year.

Specified Amount Decreases

After the first Policy Year, the Policy Owner may also request a decrease to the
Specified Amount. Any approved decrease will be effective on the Monthly
Anniversary Day on or next following the date the Company receives the request.
Any such decrease shall reduce insurance in the following order:

      1.    against insurance provided by the most recent increase;

      2.    against the next most recent increases successively; and

      3.    against insurance provided under the original application.

The Company reserves the right to limit the number of Specified Amount decreases
to one each Policy Year. The Company will refuse a request for a decrease which
would:

      1.    reduce the Specified Amount to less than $50,000 ($100,000 in New
            Jersey); or

   
      2.    disqualify the Policy as a life insurance contract.
    

Changes in the Death Benefit Option

After the first Policy Year, the Policy Owner may change the death benefit
option under the Policy. If the change is from Option 1 to Option 2, the
Specified Amount will be decreased by the amount of the Cash Value. If the
change is from Option 2 to Option 1, the Specified Amount will be increased by
the amount of the Cash Value. Evidence of insurability is not required for a
change from Option 2 to Option 1. The Company reserves the right to require
evidence of insurability for a change from Option 1 to Option 2. The effective
date of the change will be the Monthly Anniversary Day on or next following the
date the Company approves the request for change. Only one change of option is
permitted per Policy Year. A change in death benefit option will not be
permitted if it results in the total premiums paid exceeding the then current
maximum premium limitations prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service to
qualify the Policy as a life insurance contract.

                             OTHER POLICY PROVISIONS

Policy Owner

While the Insured is living, all rights in this Policy are vested in the Policy
Owner named in the application or as subsequently changed, subject to
assignment, if any.

The Policy Owner may name a contingent Policy Owner or a new Policy Owner while
the Insured is living. Any change must be in a written form satisfactory to the
Company and recorded at the Company's Home Office. Once recorded, the change
will be effective when signed. The change will not affect any payment made or
action taken by the Company before it was recorded. The Company may require that
the Policy be submitted for endorsement before making a change.

If the Policy Owner is other than the Insured and names no contingent Policy
Owner, and dies before the Insured, the Policy Owner's rights in this Policy
belong to the Policy Owner's estate.

Beneficiary

The Beneficiary(ies) shall be as named in the application or as subsequently
changed, subject to an assignment, if any. 


                                       32
<PAGE>   36

The Policy Owner may name a new Beneficiary while the Insured is living. Any
change must be in a written form satisfactory to the Company and recorded at the
Company's Home Office. Once recorded, the change will be effective when signed.
The change will not affect any payment made or action taken by the Company
before it was recorded.

If any Beneficiary predeceases the Insured, that Beneficiary's interest passes
to any surviving Beneficiary(ies), unless otherwise provided. Multiple
Beneficiaries will be paid in equal shares, unless otherwise provided. If no
named Beneficiary survives the Insureds, the Death Proceeds shall be paid to the
Policy Owner or the Policy Owner's estate.

Assignment

While the Insured is living, the Policy Owner may assign his or her rights in
the Policy. The assignment must be in writing, signed by the Policy Owner and
recorded by the Company at its Home Office. Any assignment will not affect any
payments made or actions taken by the Company before it was recorded. The
Company is not responsible for any assignment not submitted for recording, nor
is the Company responsible for the sufficiency or validity of any assignment.
The assignment will be subject to any Indebtedness owed to the Company before it
was recorded.

Incontestability

The Company will not contest payment of the Death Proceeds based on the initial
Specified Amount after the Policy has been in force during the Insured's
lifetime for 2 years from the Policy Date. For any increase in Specified Amount
requiring evidence of insurability, the Company will not contest payment of the
Death Proceeds based on such an increase after it has been in force during the
Insured's lifetime for 2 years from its effective date.

Error in Age or Sex

If the age or sex of the Insured has been misstated, the affected benefits will
be adjusted. The amount of the death benefit will be (1) multiplied by (2) and
then the result added to (3), where:

      (1)   is the amount of the death benefit at the time of the Insured's
            death reduced by the amount of the Cash Value at the time of the
            Insured's death;

      (2)   is the ratio of the monthly cost of insurance applied in the policy
            month of death and the monthly cost of insurance that should have
            been applied at the true age and sex in the policy month of death;
            and

      (3)   is the Cash Value at the time of the Insured's death.

Suicide

If the Insured dies by suicide, while sane or insane, within two years from the
Policy Date, the Company will pay no more than the sum of the premiums paid,
less any Indebtedness. If the Insured dies by suicide, while sane or insane,
within two years from the date an application is accepted for an increase in the
Specified Amount, the Company will pay no more than the amount paid for such
additional benefit.

Nonparticipating Policies

These are nonparticipating Policies on which no dividends are payable. These
Policies do not share in the profits or surplus earnings of the Company.

   
Riders

A rider may be added as an addition to the Policy.

Maturity Extension Endorsement: This rider provides the ability to extend the
maturity date of the policy until the date of the insured's death. Upon election
of this rider, several restrictions impact the policyholder's ability to make
certain policy changes, the Company automatically will make several policy
changes to reduce its risk and no further premium payments will be accepted.

Spouse Rider: This rider provides a level amount of term insurance on the spouse
of the primary insured. This rider also may be added after issue of the base
Policy. The Spouse Rider minimum face amount is $25,000 and the maximum face
amount is $500,000.

Child Rider: This rider provides term insurance on each insured child and may be
added after issue of the base Policy. The minimum amount of coverage is $3,000
and the maximum is $25,000. Eligible application ages are 15 days up to and
including age 17. 
    


                                       33
<PAGE>   37

   
Waiver of Monthly Deductions Rider: This rider is available to insureds ages
15-59 and provides for the waiver of total policy monthly deductions by the
Company upon delivery of sufficient documentation of the primary insured's
disability. Benefit duration under this rider is limited based on the age at
which disability occurs and the duration of the disability.

Accidental Death Benefit Rider: This rider provides a Death Benefit payable in
addition to the face amount of the base policy. The Accidental Death Benefit
Rider may be added after issue of the base policy. The minimum face amount is
$1,000 and the maximum face amount for this rider is $200,000. This rider is
available to insureds ages 5-65.

Base Insured Term Rider: Provides term insurance on the base insured ages 18-70.
This rider is a non-commissionable supplement to the base policy and may be
added after issue of the base policy. Level or automatically decreasing death
benefits may be chosen by the policyholder.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider: This rider allows for up to 50% of the policy's
net amount at risk to be paid to the Policy Owner if the insured is diagnosed
with a terminal illness resulting in a life expectancy of 12 months or less.

Change of Insured Rider: The named insured on the policy may be exchanged for a
new insured, subject to approval. The rider requires a written application and
satisfactory evidence of insurability. After the exchange, the cost of insurance
charges will be based on the new insured's age and risk class.

Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Rider: This rider permits the purchase of an
extension in the duration of guaranteed death benefit and must be added prior to
issue of the base policy.
    

                              LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

On July 6, 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Arizona Governing Committee v.
Norris that certain annuity benefits provided by employers' retirement and
fringe benefit programs may not vary between men and women on the basis of sex.
This decision applies only to benefits derived from contributions made on or
after August 1, 1983. The Policies offered by this prospectus are based upon
actuarial tables which distinguish between men and women and thus the Policies
provide different benefits to men and women of the same age. Accordingly,
employers and employee organizations should consider, in consultation with legal
counsel, the impact of Norris on any employment related insurance or benefit
program before purchasing this Policy.

                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICIES

   
The Policies will be sold by licensed insurance agents in those states where the
Policies may lawfully be sold. Such agents will be registered representatives of
broker dealers registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who are
members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD). The
Policies will be distributed by the General Distributor, Nationwide Advisory
Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43216,
("NAS") acts as general distributor for the Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable
Account, Nationwide DC Variable Account, Nationwide DCVA-II, Nationwide Variable
Account-II, Nationwide Variable Account-5, Nationwide Variable Account-6,
Nationwide Variable Account-8, Nationwide VA Separate Account-A, Nationwide VA
Separate Account-B, Nationwide VA Separate Account-C, Nationwide VL Separate
Account-A, Nationwide VL Separate Account-B, Nationwide VLI Separate Account -2,
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3, NACo Variable Account and the Nationwide
Variable Account, all of which are separate investment accounts of the Company
or its affiliates. NAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

NAS also acts as principal underwriter for the Nationwide Investing Foundation,
Nationwide Separate Account Trust, Financial Horizons Investment Trust,
Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust and Nationwide Investing Foundation II, which
are open-end management investment companies.
    

Gross first year commissions paid by the Company on the sale of these Policies
plus fees for marketing services provided by the General Distributor are not
more than 35% of the target Premium plus 4% of any excess premium payments.
Gross renewal commissions in years 2-5 paid by the Company will not exceed 4% of
actual premium payments, and will not exceed 2% in years 6+.


                                       34
<PAGE>   38

                               CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS

The Company serves as the Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account.

                                   TAX MATTERS

Policy Proceeds

Section 7702 of the Code provides that if certain tests are met, a Policy will
be treated as a life insurance policy for federal tax purposes. The Company will
monitor compliance with these tests. The Policy should thus receive the same
federal income tax treatment as fixed benefit life insurance. As a result, the
Death Proceeds payable under a Policy are excludable from gross income of the
beneficiary under Section 101 of the Code.

Section 7702A of the Code defines modified endowment contracts as those policies
issued or materially changed on or after June 21, 1988, on which the total
premiums paid during the first seven years exceed the amount that would have
been paid if the policy provided for paid up benefits after seven level annual
premiums (see "Information about the Policies"). The Code provides for taxation
of surrenders, partial surrenders, loans, collateral assignments and other
pre-death distributions from modified endowment contracts in the same way
annuities are taxed. Modified endowment contract distributions are defined by
the Code as amounts not received as an annuity and are taxable to the extent the
cash value of the policy exceeds, at the time of distribution, the premiums paid
into the policy. A 10% tax penalty also applies to the taxable portion of such
distributions unless the Policy Owner is over age 59 1/2 or disabled.

It may not be advantageous to replace existing insurance with Policies described
in this prospectus. It may also be disadvantageous to purchase a policy to
obtain additional insurance protection if the purchaser already owns another
variable life insurance policy.

The Policies offered by this prospectus may or may not be issued as modified
endowment contracts. The Company will monitor premiums paid and will notify the
Policy Owner when the policy's non-modified endowment status is in jeopardy. If
a policy is not a modified endowment contract, a cash distribution during the
first 15 years after a policy is issued which causes a reduction in death
benefits may still become fully or partially taxable to the Owner pursuant to
Section 7702(f) (7) of the Code. The Policy Owner should carefully consider this
potential effect and seek further information before initiating any changes in
the terms of the policy. Under certain conditions, a policy may become a
modified endowment as a result of a material change or a reduction in benefits
as defined by Section 7702A (c) of the Code.

In addition to meeting the tests required under Sections 7702, Section 817(h) of
the Code requires that the investments of separate accounts such as the Variable
Account be adequately diversified. Regulations under 817(h) provide that a
variable life policy which does not satisfy the diversification standards will
not be treated as life insurance unless the failure to satisfy the regulations
was inadvertent, the failure is corrected, and the Policy Owner or the Company
pays an amount to the Internal Revenue Service. The amount will be based on the
tax that would have been paid by the Policy Owner if the income, for the period
the policy was not diversified, had been received by the Policy Owner. If the
failure to diversify is not corrected in this manner, the Policy Owner will be
deemed the owner of the underlying securities and taxed on the earnings of his
or her account.

Should the Secretary of the Treasury issue additional rules or regulations
limiting the number of funds, transfers between Underlying Mutual Funds,
exchanges of Underlying Mutual Funds or changes in investment objectives of
Underlying Mutual Funds such that the Policy would no longer qualify as life
insurance under Section 7702 of the Code, the Company will take whatever steps
are available to remain in compliance.

The Company will monitor compliance with these regulations and, to the extent
necessary, will change the objectives or assets of the sub-account investments
to remain in compliance.

A total surrender or cancellation of the Policy by lapse or the maturity of the
Policy on its Maturity Date may have adverse tax consequences. If the amount
received by the Policy Owner plus total Policy Indebtedness exceeds the premiums
paid into the Policy, the excess will generally be treated as taxable income,
regardless of whether or not the Policy is a modified endowment contract.

Federal estate and state and local estate, inheritance and other tax
consequences of ownership or receipt of Policy proceeds depend on the
circumstances of each Policy Owner or Beneficiary.

   
Federal Estate and Generation - Skipping Transfer Taxes

The federal estate tax is integrated with the federal gift tax under a unified
tax rate schedule. In general, an estate of less than $600,000 (inclusive of
certain pre-death gifts) will not incur a federal estate tax liability. In
addition, an unlimited marital deduction may be available for federal estate tax
purposes, for certain amounts that pass to the surviving spouse.
    


                                       35
<PAGE>   39

   
When the Insured dies, the death benefit will generally be included in the
Insured's federal gross estate if (1) the proceeds were payable to or for the
benefit of the Insured's estate, or (2) the Insured held any "incident of
ownership" in the Policy at death or at any time within three years of death. An
incident of ownership is, in general, any right that may be exercised by the
owner of a policy, such as the right to borrow on the policy, or the right to
name a new beneficiary.

If the Policy Owner (whether or not he or she is the Insured) transfers
ownership of the Policy to another person, such transfer may be subject to a
federal gift tax. In addition, if such Policy Owner transfers the Policy to
someone two or more generations younger than the Policy Owner, the transfer may
be subject to the federal generation-skipping transfer tax ("GSTT"), the taxable
amount being the value of the Policy.

Similarly, if the Beneficiary is two or more generations younger than the
Insured, the payment of the Death Proceeds at the death of the Insured may be
subject to the GSTT. Pursuant to regulations recently promulgated by the
Internal Revenue Service, the Company may be required to withhold a portion of
the Death Proceeds and pay them directly to the Internal Revenue Service as the
GSTT liability.

The GSTT provisions generally apply to the same transfers that are subject to
estate or gift taxes. The tax rate is a flat rate equal to the maximum estate
tax rate (currently 55%), and there is a provision for an aggregate $1 million
exemption. Due to the complexity of these rules, the Policy Owner should consult
with their counsel or other competent advisors regarding these taxes.

Non-Resident Aliens

Distributions to nonresident aliens (NRAs) are generally subject to federal
income tax and tax withholding, at a statutory rate of thirty percent (30%) of
the amount of income that is distributed. The Company is required to withhold
such amount from the Distribution and remit it to the Internal Revenue Service.
Distributions to certain NRAs may be subject to lower, or in certain instances
zero, tax and withholding rates, if the United States has entered into an
applicable treaty. However, in order to obtain the benefits of such treaty
provisions, the NRA must give to the Company sufficient proof of his or her
residency and citizenship in the form and manner prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service. In addition, for any Distribution made after December 31, 1997,
the NRA must obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the
Internal Revenue Service, and furnish that number to the Company prior to the
Distribution. If the Company does not have the proper proof of citizenship or
residency and (for Distributions after December 31, 1997) a proper Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number prior to any Distribution, the Company will be
required to withhold 30% of the income, regardless of any treaty provision.

A payment may not be subject to withholding where the recipient sufficiently
establishes to the Company that such payment is effectively connected to the
recipient's conduct of a trade or business in the United States and that such
payment is includable in the recipient's gross income for United States federal
income tax purposes. Any such distributions may be subject to back-up
withholding at the statutory rate (currently 31%) if no taxpayer identification
number, or an incorrect taxpayer identification number, is provided.
    

Taxation of the Company

The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. Since the
Variable Account is not a separate entity from the Company and its operations
form a part of the Company, it will not be taxed separately as a "regulated
investment company" under Sub-chapter M of the Code. Investment income and
realized capital gains on the assets of the Variable Account are reinvested and
taken into account in determining the value of Accumulation Units. As a result,
such investment income and realized capital gains are automatically applied to
increase reserves under the Policies.

The Company does not initially expect to incur any Federal income tax liability
that would be chargeable to the Variable Account. Based upon these expectations,
no charge is currently being made against the Variable Account for federal
income taxes. If, however, the Company determines that on a separate company
basis such taxes may be incurred, it reserves the right to assess a charge for
such taxes against the Variable Account.

The Company may also incur state and local taxes (in addition to premium taxes)
in several states. At present, these taxes are not significant. If they
increase, however, charges for such taxes may be made.

   
Tax Changes

The foregoing discussion, which is based on the Company's understanding of
federal tax laws as they are currently interpreted by the Internal Revenue
Service, is general and is not intended as tax advice.

In the recent past, the Internal Revenue Code has been subjected to numerous
amendments and changes, and it is reasonable to believe that it will continue to
be revised. The United States Congress has, in the past, 
    


                                       36
<PAGE>   40

   
considered numerous legislative proposal that, if enacted, could change the tax
treatment of the Policies. It is reasonable to believe that such proposals, and
other proposals will be considered in the future, and some of them may be
enacted into law. In addition, the Treasury Department may amend existing
regulations, issue new regulations, or adopt new interpretations of existing law
that may be in variance with its current positions on these matters. In
addition, current state law (which is not discussed herein), and future
amendments to state law, may affect the tax consequences of the Policy.

If the Policy Owner, Insured, or Beneficiary or other person receiving any
benefit or interest in or from the Policy is not both a resident or citizen of
the United States, there may be a tax imposed by a foreign country, in addition
to any tax imposed by the United States. The foreign law (including regulations,
rulings, and case law) may change and impose additional taxes on the Policy, the
Death Benefit, or other distributions under the Policy. If there is currently a
treaty that provides favorable treatment for distributions from the Policy
and/or ownership of the Policy, that treaty may be amended and all or part of
the favorable treatment may be eliminated.

Any or all of the foregoing may change from time to time without any notice, and
the tax consequences arising out of a Policy may be changed retroactively. There
is no way of predicting whether, when, and to what extent any such change may
take place. No representation is made as to the likelihood of the continuation
of these current laws, interpretations, and policies.

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL EXPLANATION AS TO CERTAIN TAX MATTERS PERTAINING TO
INSURANCE CONTRACTS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE, AND SHOULD
NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR INDEPENDENT LEGAL, TAX AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
    

                                   THE COMPANY

The life insurance business, which includes product lines in health insurance
and annuities, is the only business in which the Company is engaged.

The Company markets its Policies through independent insurance brokers, general
agents, and registered representatives of registered NASD broker/dealer firms.

   
The Company serves as depositor for the Nationwide Variable Account, Nationwide
Variable Account-II, Nationwide Variable Account-3, Nationwide Variable
Account-4, Nationwide Variable Account-5, Nationwide Variable Account-6,
Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-8, MFS
Variable Account, Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account, Nationwide VLI
Separate Account, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2, Nationwide VLI Separate
Account-3, the NACo Variable Account, Nationwide DC Variable Account, and the
Nationwide DCVA-II each of which is a registered investment company, and each of
which is a separate investment account of the Company.
    

The Company, in common with other insurance companies, is subject to regulation
and supervision by the regulatory authorities of the states in which it is
licensed to do business. A license from the state insurance department is a
prerequisite to the transaction of insurance business in that state. In general,
all states have statutory administrative powers. Such regulation relates, among
other things, to licensing of insurers and their agents, the approval of policy
forms, the methods of computing reserves, the form and content of statutory
financial statements, the amount of policyholders' and stockholders' dividends,
and the type of distribution of investments permitted.

The Company operates in the highly competitive field of life insurance. There
are approximately 2,300 stock, mutual and other types of insurers in the life
insurance business in the United States, and a large number of them compete with
the registrant in the sale of insurance policies.

As is customary in insurance company groups, employees are shared with the other
insurance companies in the group. In addition to its direct salaried employees,
the Company shares employees with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

The Company does not presently own or lease any materially important physical
properties when its property holdings are viewed in relation to its total
assets. The Company shares Home Office, other facilities and equipment with
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.


                                       37
<PAGE>   41

                               COMPANY MANAGEMENT

Nationwide Life Insurance Company, together with Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company, Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company, National
Casualty Company, West Coast Life Insurance, Company, Scottsdale Indemnity
Company, Nationwide Indemnity Company and Nationwide General Insurance Company
and their affiliated companies comprise the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise.

The companies comprising the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise have substantially
common boards of directors and officers. Nationwide Corporation, is the sole
shareholder of the Company.

Directors of the Company

                               Director
Name                             Since     Principal Occupation

Lewis J. Alphin                  1993      Farm Owner and Operator (1)

   
Keith W. Eckel                   1996      Partner, Fred W. Eckel Sons;
                                           President, Eckel Farms, Inc. (1)
    

Willard J. Engel                 1994      General Manager, Lyon County
                                           Cooperative Oil Company (1)

Fred C. Finney                   1992      Owner and Operator, Moreland Fruit
                                           Farm; Operator, Melrose Orchard

Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr. *+     1969      Chief Executive Officer, Fuellgraf
                                           Electric Company, Electrical
                                           Construction and Engineering Services
                                           (1)

Henry S. Holloway *+             1986      Farm Owner and Operator (1)

Joseph J. Gasper *+              1996      President and Chief Operating
                                           Officer, Nationwide Life Insurance
                                           Company and Nationwide Life and
                                           Annuity Insurance Company (2)

Dimon Richard McFerson *+        1988      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
                                           Nationwide Insurance Enterprise (2)

David O. Miller *+               1985      Farm Owner and Land Developer;
                                           President, Owen Potato Farm, Inc.;
                                           Partner, M&M Enterprises (1)

   
C. Ray Noecker                   1994      Owner and Operator, Noecker Farms (1)
    

James F. Patterson +             1989      Vice President, Pattersons, Inc. ;
                                           President, Patterson Farms, Inc. (1)

Arden L. Shisler *+              1984      Partner and Manager, Sweetwater Beef
                                           Farms; President and Chief Executive
                                           Officer, K&B Transport, Inc. (1)

   
Robert L. Stewart                1989      Owner and Operator; Sunnydale Farms
                                           and Mining (1)
    

Nancy C. Thomas *                1986      Farm Owner and Operator, Da-Ma-Lor
                                           Farms (1)

Harold W. Weihl                  1990      Farm Owner and Operator, Weihl Farm
                                           (1)

- ----------
*Member, Executive Committee   +Member,
                               Investment
                               Committee

(1)   Principal occupation for last five years.
(2)   Prior to assuming their current positions, Messrs. McFerson and Gasper
      held other executive management positions with the companies.

   
Each of the directors is a director of the other major insurance affiliates of
the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise, except Mr. Gasper who is a director only of
the Company and Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Messrs. Gasper and McFerson
are directors of Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

Messrs. Gasper, Holloway, McFerson, Miller, Patterson Shisler and Fuellgraf are
directors of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. Messrs. Fuellgraf, McFerson,
Ms. Thomas, and Mr. Weihl are trustees of Nationwide Investing Foundation, a
registered investment company. Mr. McFerson is a trustee of Nationwide Separate
Account Trust, Financial Horizons Investment Trust, Nationwide Asset Allocation
Trust, and Nationwide Investing Foundation II, registered investment companies.
Mr. Engel is a director of Western Cooperative Transport.
    


                                       38
<PAGE>   42

Executive Officers of the Company

Name                           Office Held

   
Dimon Richard McFerson         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer-Nationwide
                               Insurance Enterprise
    

Joseph J. Gasper               President and Chief Operating Officer

Gordon E. McCutchan            Executive Vice President, Law and Corporate
                               Services and Secretary

Robert A. Oakley               Executive Vice President - Chief Financial
                               Officer

Robert J. Woodward, Jr.        Executive Vice President-Chief Investment Officer

James E. Brock                 Senior Vice President - Life Company Operations

W. Sidney Druen                Senior Vice President and General Counsel and
                               Assistant Secretary

Harvey S. Galloway, Jr.        Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary

Richard A. Karas               Executive Vice President - Sales and Financial
                               Services

   
Mark R. Thresher               Vice President - Controller

Duane M. Campbell              Vice President - Treasurer

Mr. Gasper is also President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Life and
Annuity Insurance Company. Mr. Galloway is also an officer of Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company and Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company. Each of the
other officers listed above is also an officer of each of the companies
comprising the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise. Each of the executive officers
listed above has been associated with the registrant in an executive capacity
for more than the past five years, except Mr. Thresher, who joined the
Registrant in 1996. From 1988-1996, Mr. Thresher served as a partner in the
accounting firm KPMG Peat Marwick LLP and lead partner for Nationwide Insurance
Enterprise from 1993-1996.
    

                      OTHER CONTRACTS ISSUED BY THE COMPANY

The Company does presently and will, from time to time, offer variable contracts
and policies with benefits which vary in accordance with the investment
experience of other separate accounts of the Company.

                                STATE REGULATION

The Company is subject to the laws of Ohio governing insurance companies and to
regulation by the Ohio Insurance Department. An annual statement in a prescribed
form is filed with the Insurance Department each year covering the operation of
the Company for the preceding year and its financial condition as of the end of
such year. Regulation by the Insurance Department includes periodic examination
to determine the Company's contract liabilities and reserves so that the
Insurance Department may certify the items are correct. The Company's books and
accounts are subject to review by the Insurance Department at all times and a
full examination of its operations is conducted periodically by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners. Such regulation does not, however,
involve any supervision of management or investment practices or policies. In
addition, the Company is subject to regulation under the insurance laws of other
jurisdictions in which it may operate.

                            REPORTS TO POLICY OWNERS

The Company will mail to the Policy Owner, at the last known address of record,
an annual statement showing the amount of the current death benefit, the Cash
Value, and Cash Surrender Value, premiums paid and monthly charges deducted
since the last report, the amounts invested in the Fixed Account and in the
Variable Account and in each sub-account of the Variable Account, and any Policy
Indebtedness.

Policy Owners will also be sent annual and semi-annual reports containing
financial statements for the Variable Account as required by the 1940 Act.

In addition, Policy Owners will receive statements of significant transactions,
such as changes in Specified Amount, changes in death benefit option, changes in
future premium allocation, transfers among sub-accounts, premium payments,
loans, loan repayments, reinstatement and termination.


                                       39
<PAGE>   43

                                   ADVERTISING

The Company is also ranked and rated by independent financial rating services,
among which are Moody's, Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best Company. The purpose of
these ratings is to reflect the financial strength or claims-paying ability of
the Company. The ratings are not intended to reflect the investment experience
or financial strength of the Variable Account. The Company may advertise these
ratings from time to time. In addition, the Company may include in certain
advertisements endorsements in the form of a list of organizations, individuals
or other parties which recommend the Company or the Contracts . Furthermore, the
Company may occasionally include in advertisements comparisons of currently
taxable and tax deferred investment programs, based on selected tax brackets, or
discussions of alternative investment vehicles and general economic conditions.

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   
From time to time the Company is a party to litigation and arbitration
proceedings in the ordinary course of its business, none of which is expected to
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

In recent years, life insurance companies have been named as defendants in
lawsuits, including class action lawsuits, relating to life insurance pricing
and sales practices. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial
jury awards or settlements. In October, 1996, a policyholder of Nationwide Life
filed a complaint in Alabama state court against Nationwide Life and an agent of
Nationwide Life (Wayne M. King v. Nationwide Life Insurance Company and Danny
Nix) related to the sale of a whole life policy on a "vanishing premium" basis
and seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In February, 1997,
Nationwide Life was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme
Court which also related to the sale of whole life policies on a "vanishing
premium" basis (John H. Snyder v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company,
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and Nationwide Life Insurance Co.). The
plaintiff in such lawsuit seeks to represent a national class of Nationwide Life
policyholders and claims unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. This
lawsuit is in an early stage and has not been certified as a class action.
Nationwide Life intends to defend these cases vigorously. There can be no
assurance that any future litigation relating to pricing and sales practices
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The General Distributor, Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., is not engaged in
any material litigation of any nature.
    

                                     EXPERTS

   
The financial statements and schedules have been included herein in reliance 
upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public 
accountants, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting 
and auditing.
    

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A Registration Statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the
Policies offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all the information
set forth in the Registration Statement and amendments thereto and exhibits
filed as a part thereof, to all of which reference is hereby made for further
information concerning the Variable Account, the Company, and the Policies
offered hereby. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the content of
Policies and other legal instruments are summaries. For a complete statement of
the terms thereof, reference is made to such instruments as filed.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

Legal matters in connection with the Policies described herein are being passed
upon by Druen, Rath & Dietrich, One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43216. All
the members of such firm are employed by the Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company.


                                       40
<PAGE>   44

                                   APPENDIX 1

                                 ILLUSTRATION OF
                                SURRENDER CHARGES

Example 1: A female non-tobacco, age 45, purchases a Policy with a Specified
Amount of $50,000 and a Scheduled Premium of $750. She now wishes to surrender
the Policy during the first Policy year. By using the initial surrender charge
table reproduced below, (also see "Surrender Charges") the total surrender
charge per thousand multiplied by the Specified Amount expressed in thousands
equals the total surrender charge of $569.80 ($11.396 x 50=569.80).

Example 2: A male non-tobacco, age 35, purchases a Policy with a Specified
Amount of $100,000 and a Scheduled Premium of $1100. He now wants to surrender
the Policy in the sixth Policy Year. The total initial surrender charge is
calculated using the method illustrated above. (surrender charge per 1000 6.817
x 100=681.70 maximum initial surrender charge). Because the fifth Policy Year
has been completed, the maximum initial surrender charge is reduced by
multiplying it by the applicable percentage factor from the "Reductions to
Surrender Charges" table (also see "Reductions to Surrender Charges"). In this
case, $681.70 x 60%=$409.02.

Maximum Surrender Charge per $1,000 of initial Specified Amount for policies
which are issued on a standard basis.

                    Initial Specified Amount $50,000-$99,999

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Issue           Male            Female           Male           Female
     Age        Non-Tobacco      Non-Tobacco       Standard        Standard
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     25            $7.776           $7.521          $8.369          $7.818
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     35             8.817            8.398           9.811           8.891
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     45            12.191           11.396          13.887          12.169
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     55            15.636           14.011          18.415          15.116
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     65            22.295           19.086          26.577          20.641
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Initial Specified Amount $100,000+

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Issue           Male            Female           Male           Female
     Age        Non-Tobacco      Non-Tobacco       Standard        Standard
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     25            $5.776           $5.521          $6.369          $5.818
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     35             6.817            6.398           7.811           6.891
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     45             9.691            8.896          11.387           9.669
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     55            13.136           11.511          15.915          12.616
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     65            21.295           18.086          25.577          19.641
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Reductions to Surrender Charges.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Surrender Charge                           Surrender Charge
  Completed     as a % of Initial      Completed           as a % of Initial
Policy Years    Surrender Charges     Policy Years         Surrender Charges
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      0                 100%               5                        60%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      1                 100%               6                        50%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      2                  90%               7                        40%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      3                  80%               8                        30%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      4                  70%               9+                        0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       41
<PAGE>   45

The current Surrender Charges are the same for all states. However, in
Pennsylvania the guaranteed maximum Surrender Charges are spread out over 14
years. The guaranteed maximum Surrender Charge in subsequent years in
Pennsylvania is reduced in the following manner:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Surrender Charge                     Surrender Charge                     Surrender Charge
                 as a % of Initial                    as a % of Initial                    as a % of Initial
   Completed         Surrender          Completed         Surrender          Completed         Surrender
 Policy Years         Charges         Policy Years         Charges         Policy Years         Charges
 ------------         -------         ------------         -------         ------------         -------
<S>                     <C>                 <C>              <C>                <C>               <C>
       0                100%                5                60%                10                20%
       1                100%                6                50%                11                15%
       2                 90%                7                40%                12                10%
       3                 80%                8                30%                13                 5%
       4                 70%                9                25%                14+                0%
</TABLE>

The illustrations of current values in this prospectus are the same for
Pennsylvania. However, the illustrations of guaranteed values in this prospectus
do not reflect guaranteed maximum Surrender Charges which are spread out over 14
years. If this contract is issued in Pennsylvania, please contact the Home
Office for an illustration.

The Company has no plans to change the current Surrender Charges.


                                       42
<PAGE>   46

                                   APPENDIX 2
                          ILLUSTRATIONS OF CASH VALUES,
                             CASH SURRENDER VALUES,
                               AND DEATH BENEFITS

The illustrations in this prospectus have been prepared to help show how values
under the Policies change with investment performance. The illustrations
illustrate how Cash Values, Cash Surrender Values and death benefits under a
Policy would vary over time if the hypothetical gross investment rates of return
were a uniform annual effective rate of either 0%, 6% or 12%. If the
hypothetical gross investment rate of return averages 0%, 6% or 12% over a
period of years, but fluctuates above or below those averages for individual
years, the Cash Values, Cash Surrender Values and death benefits may be
different. For hypothetical returns of 0% and 6%, the illustrations also
illustrate when the Policies would go into default, at which time additional
premium payments would be required to continue the Policy in force. The
illustrations also assume there is no Policy Indebtedness, no additional premium
payments are made, no Cash Values are allocated to the Fixed Account, and there
are no changes in the Specified Amount or death benefit option.

   
The amounts shown for the Cash Value, Cash Surrender Value and death benefit as
of each Policy Anniversary reflect the fact that the net investment return on
the assets held in the sub-accounts is lower than the gross return. This is due
to the daily charges made against the assets of the sub-accounts for assuming
mortality and expense risks. The mortality and expense risk charges are
equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.80% of the daily net asset value of
the Variable Account. On each Policy Anniversary beginning with the 10th, the
mortality and expense risk charge is reduced to 0.50% on an annual basis of the
daily net assets of the Variable Account, provided the Cash Surrender Value is
$25,000 or more on such anniversary. In addition, the net investment returns
also reflect the deduction of Underlying Mutual Fund investment advisory fees
and other expenses which are equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.90% of
the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. This effective rate is based
on the average of the fund expenses for the preceding year for all mutual fund
options available under the policy as of April 30, 1997.
    

Considering current charges for mortality and expense risks and Underlying
Mutual Fund expenses, gross annual rates of return of 0%, 6% and 12% correspond
to net investment experience at constant annual rates of -1.70%, 4.30% and
10.30%. On each Policy Anniversary beginning with the 10th, the gross annual
rates of return of 0%, 6%, and 12% correspond to net investment experience at
constant annual rates of -1.40%, 4.60%, and 10.60%, provided the Cash Surrender
Value is $25,000 or more on such anniversary. This is due to a guaranteed
reduction in the mortality and expense risk charge from an annual effective rate
of 0.80% to an annual effective rate of 0.50% if the aforementioned conditions
apply.

The illustrations also reflect the fact that the Company makes monthly charges
for providing insurance protection. Current values reflect current cost of
insurance charges and guaranteed values reflect the maximum cost of insurance
charges guaranteed in the Policy. The values shown are for Policies which are
issued as standard. Policies issued on a substandard basis would result in lower
Cash Values and Death benefits than those illustrated.

The illustrations also reflect the fact that the Company deducts a sales load
from each premium payment. Current values reflect a deduction of 3.5% of each
premium payment up to Break Point Premium and 1.5% of any excess. Guaranteed
values reflect a deduction of 3.5% of each premium payment. The illustrations
also reflect the fact that the Company deducts a charge for state premium taxes
equal to 2.5% of all premium payments.

   
The Cash Surrender Values shown in the illustrations reflect the fact that the
Company will deduct a Surrender Charge from the Policy's Cash Value for any
Policy surrendered in full during the first nine years. In addition, the
illustrations reflect the fact that the Company deducts a monthly administrative
charge at the beginning of each Policy Month. Current values reflect a current
monthly administrative expense charge of $12.50 per month in the first year and
$5 per month in renewal years. Guaranteed values reflect the $25 maximum monthly
administrative expense charge under the policy in the first year, and the $7.50
maximum monthly charge under the policy in renewal years. The illustrations also
reflect the fact that no charges for federal or state income taxes are currently
made against the Variable Account. If such a charge is made in the future, it
will require a higher gross investment return than illustrated in order to
produce the net after-tax returns shown in the illustrations. 
    

Upon request, the Company will furnish a comparable illustration based on the
proposed Insured's age, sex, smoking classification, rating classification and
premium payment requested.


                                       43
<PAGE>   47

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                  $750 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>   
       1         788         390          0       50,000        422          0        50,000          454            0       50,000
       2       1,614         852        278       50,000        943        369        50,000        1,038          464       50,000
       3       2,483       1,296        780       50,000      1,476        959        50,000        1,670        1,154       50,000
       4       3,394       1,717      1,258       50,000      2,016      1,557        50,000        2,352        1,893       50,000
       5       4,351       2,116      1,714       50,000      2,563      2,161        50,000        3,087        2,686       50,000
       6       5,357       2,493      2,149       50,000      3,118      2,774        50,000        3,883        3,539       50,000
       7       6,412       2,854      2,567       50,000      3,689      3,402        50,000        4,752        4,465       50,000
       8       7,520       3,193      2,964       50,000      4,268      4,039        50,000        5,696        5,467       50,000
       9       8,683       3,512      3,340       50,000      4,859      4,687        50,000        6,725        6,553       50,000
      10       9,905       3,810      3,810       50,000      5,462      5,462        50,000        7,847        7,847       50,000
      11      11,188       4,083      4,083       50,000      6,071      6,071        50,000        9,069        9,069       50,000
      12      12,535       4,330      4,330       50,000      6,688      6,688        50,000       10,403       10,403       50,000
      13      13,949       4,546      4,546       50,000      7,308      7,308        50,000       11,856       11,856       50,000
      14      15,434       4,729      4,729       50,000      7,929      7,929        50,000       13,441       13,441       50,000
      15      16,993       4,869      4,869       50,000      8,542      8,542        50,000       15,166       15,166       50,000
      16      18,630       4,968      4,968       50,000      9,149      9,149        50,000       17,052       17,052       50,000
      17      20,349       5,018      5,018       50,000      9,743      9,743        50,000       19,113       19,113       50,000
      18      22,154       5,008      5,008       50,000     10,316     10,316        50,000       21,367       21,367       50,000
      19      24,049       4,940      4,940       50,000     10,867     10,867        50,000       23,843       23,843       50,000
      20      26,039       4,804      4,804       50,000     11,389     11,389        50,000       26,568       26,568       50,000
      21      28,129       4,595      4,595       50,000     11,877     11,877        50,000       29,668       29,668       50,000
      22      30,323       4,303      4,303       50,000     12,324     12,324        50,000       33,114       33,114       50,000
      23      32,626       3,916      3,916       50,000     12,719     12,719        50,000       36,961       36,961       50,000
      24      35,045       3,422      3,422       50,000     13,052     13,052        50,000       41,274       41,274       50,000
      25      37,585       2,816      2,816       50,000     13,320     13,320        50,000       46,105       46,105       53,482
      26      40,252       2,084      2,084       50,000     13,510     13,510        50,000       51,420       51,420       59,132
      27      43,052       1,192      1,192       50,000     13,596     13,596        50,000       57,274       57,274       64,719
      28      45,992         131        131       50,000     13,570     13,570        50,000       63,731       63,731       70,741
      29      49,079         (*)        (*)          (*)     13,415     13,415        50,000       70,863       70,863       77,240
      30      52,321         (*)        (*)          (*)     13,108     13,108        50,000       78,753       78,753       84,266
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       44
<PAGE>   48

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                  $750 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------

<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>   
       1         788         175          0       50,000        200          0        50,000          225            0       50,000
       2       1,614         539          0       50,000        606         33        50,000          678          104       50,000
       3       2,483         879        362       50,000      1,012        496        50,000        1,158          641       50,000
       4       3,394       1,194        735       50,000      1,416        957        50,000        1,667        1,208       50,000
       5       4,351       1,484      1,082       50,000      1,816      1,415        50,000        2,208        1,806       50,000
       6       5,357       1,744      1,400       50,000      2,210      1,865        50,000        2,781        2,436       50,000
       7       6,412       1,973      1,686       50,000      2,593      2,306        50,000        3,385        3,098       50,000
       8       7,520       2,167      1,937       50,000      2,961      2,732        50,000        4,021        3,792       50,000
       9       8,683       2,320      2,148       50,000      3,309      3,137        50,000        4,688        4,516       50,000
      10       9,905       2,429      2,429       50,000      3,632      3,632        50,000        5,386        5,386       50,000
      11      11,188       2,490      2,490       50,000      3,924      3,924        50,000        6,116        6,116       50,000
      12      12,535       2,499      2,499       50,000      4,180      4,180        50,000        6,877        6,877       50,000
      13      13,949       2,453      2,453       50,000      4,396      4,396        50,000        7,673        7,673       50,000
      14      15,434       2,346      2,346       50,000      4,563      4,563        50,000        8,504        8,504       50,000
      15      16,993       2,170      2,170       50,000      4,672      4,672        50,000        9,369        9,369       50,000
      16      18,630       1,916      1,916       50,000      4,711      4,711        50,000       10,267       10,267       50,000
      17      20,349       1,576      1,576       50,000      4,669      4,669        50,000       11,198       11,198       50,000
      18      22,154       1,132      1,132       50,000      4,526      4,526        50,000       12,158       12,158       50,000
      19      24,049         571        571       50,000      4,262      4,262        50,000       13,143       13,143       50,000
      20      26,039         (*)        (*)          (*)      3,855      3,855        50,000       14,153       14,153       50,000
      21      28,129         (*)        (*)          (*)      3,281      3,281        50,000       15,185       15,185       50,000
      22      30,323         (*)        (*)          (*)      2,511      2,511        50,000       16,240       16,240       50,000
      23      32,626         (*)        (*)          (*)      1,514      1,514        50,000       17,320       17,320       50,000
      24      35,045         (*)        (*)          (*)        248        248        50,000       18,427       18,427       50,000
      25      37,585         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       19,559       19,559       50,000
      26      40,252         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       20,711       20,711       50,000
      27      43,052         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       21,878       21,878       50,000
      28      45,992         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       23,051       23,051       50,000
      29      49,079         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       24,221       24,221       50,000
      30      52,321         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       25,386       25,386       50,000
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       45
<PAGE>   49

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                $1,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       1,575         947         49      100,000      1,016        119       100,000        1,085          188      100,000
       2       3,229       1,946      1,049      100,000      2,146      1,249       100,000        2,354        1,457      100,000
       3       4,965       2,910      2,102      100,000      3,304      2,496       100,000        3,732        2,924      100,000
       4       6,788       3,837      3,119      100,000      4,492      3,774       100,000        5,231        4,513      100,000
       5       8,703       4,731      4,103      100,000      5,712      5,084       100,000        6,865        6,236      100,000
       6      10,713       5,591      5,053      100,000      6,967      6,429       100,000        8,648        8,110      100,000
       7      12,824       6,408      5,960      100,000      8,247      7,799       100,000       10,587       10,139      100,000
       8      15,040       7,172      6,813      100,000      9,544      9,185       100,000       12,689       12,330      100,000
       9      17,367       7,884      7,615      100,000     10,860     10,590       100,000       14,972       14,703      100,000
      10      19,810       8,535      8,535      100,000     12,186     12,186       100,000       17,449       17,449      100,000
      11      22,376       9,139      9,139      100,000     13,536     13,536       100,000       20,155       20,155      100,000
      12      25,069       9,703      9,703      100,000     14,919     14,919       100,000       23,123       23,123      100,000
      13      27,898      10,229     10,229      100,000     16,341     16,341       100,000       26,386       26,386      100,000
      14      30,868      10,700     10,700      100,000     17,784     17,784       100,000       30,052       30,052      100,000
      15      33,986      11,097     11,097      100,000     19,236     19,236       100,000       34,077       34,077      100,000
      16      37,261      11,427     11,427      100,000     20,701     20,701       100,000       38,511       38,511      100,000
      17      40,699      11,681     11,681      100,000     22,175     22,175       100,000       43,402       43,402      100,000
      18      44,309      11,846     11,846      100,000     23,649     23,649       100,000       48,803       48,803      100,000
      19      48,099      11,916     11,916      100,000     25,119     25,119       100,000       54,780       54,780      100,000
      20      52,079      11,897     11,897      100,000     26,675     26,675       100,000       61,418       61,418      100,000
      21      56,258      11,775     11,775      100,000     28,234     28,234       100,000       68,803       68,803      100,000
      22      60,646      11,522     11,522      100,000     29,779     29,779       100,000       77,036       77,036      100,000
      23      65,253      11,128     11,128      100,000     31,306     31,306       100,000       86,243       86,243      101,766
      24      70,091      10,566     10,566      100,000     32,798     32,798       100,000       96,429       96,429      112,822
      25      75,170       9,824      9,824      100,000     34,252     34,252       100,000      107,629      107,629      124,850
      26      80,504       8,891      8,891      100,000     35,666     35,666       100,000      119,945      119,945      137,937
      27      86,104       7,726      7,726      100,000     37,017     37,017       100,000      133,520      133,520      150,878
      28      91,984       6,311      6,311      100,000     38,301     38,301       100,000      148,498      148,498      164,832
      29      98,158       4,619      4,619      100,000     39,509     39,509       100,000      165,042      165,042      179,895
      30     104,641       2,600      2,600      100,000     40,618     40,618       100,000      183,337      183,337      196,171
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       46
<PAGE>   50

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                $1,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       1,575         750          0      100,000        813          0       100,000          876            0      100,000
       2       3,229       1,672        774      100,000      1,851        953       100,000        2,038        1,140      100,000
       3       4,965       2,552      1,744      100,000      2,906      2,098       100,000        3,290        2,483      100,000
       4       6,788       3,389      2,671      100,000      3,978      3,260       100,000        4,642        3,924      100,000
       5       8,703       4,182      3,554      100,000      5,065      4,437       100,000        6,102        5,473      100,000
       6      10,713       4,926      4,388      100,000      6,163      5,625       100,000        7,676        7,138      100,000
       7      12,824       5,618      5,169      100,000      7,269      6,821       100,000        9,373        8,925      100,000
       8      15,040       6,251      5,892      100,000      8,378      8,019       100,000       11,202       10,843      100,000
       9      17,367       6,820      6,551      100,000      9,482      9,213       100,000       13,171       12,901      100,000
      10      19,810       7,320      7,320      100,000     10,578     10,578       100,000       15,291       15,291      100,000
      11      22,376       7,744      7,744      100,000     11,657     11,657       100,000       17,575       17,575      100,000
      12      25,069       8,088      8,088      100,000     12,717     12,717       100,000       20,039       20,039      100,000
      13      27,898       8,348      8,348      100,000     13,751     13,751       100,000       22,703       22,703      100,000
      14      30,868       8,515      8,515      100,000     14,753     14,753       100,000       25,586       25,586      100,000
      15      33,986       8,580      8,580      100,000     15,711     15,711       100,000       28,798       28,798      100,000
      16      37,261       8,532      8,532      100,000     16,615     16,615       100,000       32,298       32,298      100,000
      17      40,699       8,357      8,357      100,000     17,452     17,452       100,000       36,118       36,118      100,000
      18      44,309       8,036      8,036      100,000     18,201     18,201       100,000       40,294       40,294      100,000
      19      48,099       7,548      7,548      100,000     18,843     18,843       100,000       44,873       44,873      100,000
      20      52,079       6,873      6,873      100,000     19,356     19,356       100,000       49,910       49,910      100,000
      21      56,258       5,988      5,988      100,000     19,718     19,718       100,000       55,475       55,475      100,000
      22      60,646       4,871      4,871      100,000     19,905     19,905       100,000       61,656       61,656      100,000
      23      65,253       3,497      3,497      100,000     19,891     19,891       100,000       68,558       68,558      100,000
      24      70,091       1,834      1,834      100,000     19,643     19,643       100,000       76,311       76,311      100,000
      25      75,170         (*)        (*)          (*)     19,116     19,116       100,000       85,073       85,073      100,000
      26      80,504         (*)        (*)          (*)     18,248     18,248       100,000       94,894       94,894      109,128
      27      86,104         (*)        (*)          (*)     16,963     16,963       100,000      105,704      105,704      119,446
      28      91,984         (*)        (*)          (*)     15,157     15,157       100,000      117,616      117,616      130,554
      29      98,158         (*)        (*)          (*)     12,706     12,706       100,000      130,763      130,763      142,532
      30     104,641         (*)        (*)          (*)      9,468      9,468       100,000      145,305      145,305      155,477
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       47
<PAGE>   51

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                 $1200 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>   
       1       1,260         641          0       50,000        693          0        50,000          745           52       50,000
       2       2,583       1,341        648       50,000      1,487        794        50,000        1,640          947       50,000
       3       3,972       2,004      1,380       50,000      2,290      1,666        50,000        2,601        1,978       50,000
       4       5,431       2,628      2,073       50,000      3,099      2,545        50,000        3,633        3,079       50,000
       5       6,962       3,204      2,719       50,000      3,907      3,421        50,000        4,735        4,250       50,000
       6       8,570       3,734      3,318       50,000      4,714      4,298        50,000        5,918        5,502       50,000
       7      10,259       4,211      3,864       50,000      5,514      5,167        50,000        7,183        6,837       50,000
       8      12,032       4,626      4,349       50,000      6,298      6,021        50,000        8,535        8,258       50,000
       9      13,893       4,981      4,773       50,000      7,068      6,860        50,000        9,986        9,778       50,000
      10      15,848       5,267      5,267       50,000      7,816      7,816        50,000       11,544       11,544       50,000
      11      17,901       5,482      5,482       50,000      8,538      8,538        50,000       13,222       13,222       50,000
      12      20,056       5,615      5,615       50,000      9,226      9,226        50,000       15,032       15,032       50,000
      13      22,318       5,658      5,658       50,000      9,872      9,872        50,000       16,990       16,990       50,000
      14      24,694       5,601      5,601       50,000     10,466     10,466        50,000       19,115       19,115       50,000
      15      27,189       5,441      5,441       50,000     11,007     11,007        50,000       21,437       21,437       50,000
      16      29,808       5,166      5,166       50,000     11,484     11,484        50,000       23,988       23,988       50,000
      17      32,559       4,748      4,748       50,000     11,872     11,872        50,000       26,796       26,796       50,000
      18      35,447       4,181      4,181       50,000     12,167     12,167        50,000       30,006       30,006       50,000
      19      38,479       3,447      3,447       50,000     12,354     12,354        50,000       33,612       33,612       50,000
      20      41,663       2,528      2,528       50,000     12,415     12,415        50,000       37,693       37,693       50,000
      21      45,006       1,387      1,387       50,000     12,322     12,322        50,000       42,348       42,348       50,000
      22      48,517         (*)        (*)          (*)     12,040     12,040        50,000       47,707       47,707       50,093
      23      52,202         (*)        (*)          (*)     11,528     11,528        50,000       53,725       53,725       56,411
      24      56,073         (*)        (*)          (*)     10,742     10,742        50,000       60,337       60,337       63,354
      25      60,136         (*)        (*)          (*)      9,624      9,624        50,000       67,597       67,597       70,977
      26      64,403         (*)        (*)          (*)      8,099      8,099        50,000       75,564       75,564       79,342
      27      68,883         (*)        (*)          (*)      6,073      6,073        50,000       84,301       84,301       88,516
      28      73,587         (*)        (*)          (*)      3,434      3,434        50,000       93,877       93,877       98,571
      29      78,527         (*)        (*)          (*)         21         21        50,000      104,366      104,366      109,584
      30      83,713         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      115,843      115,843      121,635
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       48
<PAGE>   52

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                 $1200 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>   
       1       1,260         287          0       50,000        328          0        50,000          368            0       50,000
       2       2,583         728         35       50,000        833        140        50,000          944          251       50,000
       3       3,972       1,110        487       50,000      1,309        685        50,000        1,526          903       50,000
       4       5,431       1,429        874       50,000      1,746      1,192        50,000        2,110        1,556       50,000
       5       6,962       1,676      1,191       50,000      2,138      1,652        50,000        2,689        2,204       50,000
       6       8,570       1,846      1,430       50,000      2,472      2,056        50,000        3,256        2,840       50,000
       7      10,259       1,929      1,582       50,000      2,739      2,393        50,000        3,802        3,455       50,000
       8      12,032       1,912      1,635       50,000      2,922      2,645        50,000        4,314        4,036       50,000
       9      13,893       1,781      1,574       50,000      3,002      2,794        50,000        4,775        4,567       50,000
      10      15,848       1,523      1,523       50,000      2,959      2,959        50,000        5,170        5,170       50,000
      11      17,901       1,121      1,121       50,000      2,773      2,773        50,000        5,478        5,478       50,000
      12      20,056         560        560       50,000      2,420      2,420        50,000        5,680        5,680       50,000
      13      22,318         (*)        (*)          (*)      1,872      1,872        50,000        5,750        5,750       50,000
      14      24,694         (*)        (*)          (*)      1,096      1,096        50,000        5,656        5,656       50,000
      15      27,189         (*)        (*)          (*)         45         45        50,000        5,354        5,354       50,000
      16      29,808         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        4,783        4,783       50,000
      17      32,559         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        3,863        3,863       50,000
      18      35,447         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        2,481        2,481       50,000
      19      38,479         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          499          499       50,000
      20      41,663         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      21      45,006         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      22      48,517         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      23      52,202         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      24      56,073         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      25      60,136         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      26      64,403         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      27      68,883         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      28      73,587         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      29      78,527         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      30      83,713         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       49
<PAGE>   53

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                $2,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       2,625       1,533        371      100,000      1,647        485       100,000        1,762          599      100,000
       2       5,381       3,104      1,941      100,000      3,431      2,268       100,000        3,772        2,609      100,000
       3       8,275       4,625      3,579      100,000      5,267      4,221       100,000        5,964        4,918      100,000
       4      11,314       6,078      5,148      100,000      7,141      6,211       100,000        8,341        7,411      100,000
       5      14,505       7,447      6,633      100,000      9,036      8,222       100,000       10,905       10,091      100,000
       6      17,855       8,737      8,039      100,000     10,960     10,262       100,000       13,684       12,986      100,000
       7      21,373       9,943      9,362      100,000     12,910     12,328       100,000       16,699       16,118      100,000
       8      25,066      11,052     10,587      100,000     14,875     14,410       100,000       19,968       19,503      100,000
       9      28,945      12,062     11,714      100,000     16,854     16,505       100,000       23,520       23,172      100,000
      10      33,017      12,980     12,980      100,000     18,857     18,857       100,000       27,400       27,400      100,000
      11      37,293      13,793     13,793      100,000     20,877     20,877       100,000       31,739       31,739      100,000
      12      41,782      14,476     14,476      100,000     22,892     22,892       100,000       36,497       36,497      100,000
      13      46,497      15,025     15,025      100,000     24,903     24,903       100,000       41,735       41,735      100,000
      14      51,446      15,415     15,415      100,000     26,893     26,893       100,000       47,511       47,511      100,000
      15      56,644      15,639     15,639      100,000     28,949     28,949       100,000       53,913       53,913      100,000
      16      62,101      15,691     15,691      100,000     30,997     30,997       100,000       61,045       61,045      100,000
      17      67,831      15,536     15,536      100,000     33,017     33,017       100,000       69,018       69,018      100,000
      18      73,848      15,164     15,164      100,000     35,010     35,010       100,000       77,985       77,985      100,000
      19      80,165      14,555     14,555      100,000     36,973     36,973       100,000       88,129       88,129      100,000
      20      86,798      13,667     13,667      100,000     38,890     38,890       100,000       99,603       99,603      106,575
      21      93,763      12,467     12,467      100,000     40,753     40,753       100,000      112,329      112,329      117,946
      22     101,076      10,871     10,871      100,000     42,524     42,524       100,000      126,332      126,332      132,649
      23     108,755       8,813      8,813      100,000     44,183     44,183       100,000      141,732      141,732      148,819
      24     116,818       6,215      6,215      100,000     45,708     45,708       100,000      158,661      158,661      166,594
      25     125,284       2,976      2,976      100,000     47,071     47,071       100,000      177,258      177,258      186,121
      26     134,173         (*)        (*)          (*)     48,244     48,244       100,000      197,678      197,678      207,562
      27     143,506         (*)        (*)          (*)     49,200     49,200       100,000      220,086      220,086      231,090
      28     153,307         (*)        (*)          (*)     49,893     49,893       100,000      244,659      244,659      256,892
      29     163,597         (*)        (*)          (*)     50,268     50,268       100,000      271,586      271,586      285,165
      30     174,402         (*)        (*)          (*)     50,237     50,237       100,000      301,066      301,066      316,119
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       50
<PAGE>   54

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 1
                $2,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       2,625       1,210         48      100,000      1,314        152       100,000        1,419          256      100,000
       2       5,381       2,538      1,375      100,000      2,827      1,664       100,000        3,130        1,967      100,000
       3       8,275       3,769      2,723      100,000      4,330      3,284       100,000        4,941        3,895      100,000
       4      11,314       4,898      3,968      100,000      5,816      4,886       100,000        6,857        5,927      100,000
       5      14,505       5,916      5,103      100,000      7,275      6,462       100,000        8,882        8,069      100,000
       6      17,855       6,814      6,117      100,000      8,698      8,001       100,000       11,022       10,324      100,000
       7      21,373       7,581      7,000      100,000     10,072      9,491       100,000       13,281       12,700      100,000
       8      25,066       8,200      7,735      100,000     11,379     10,914       100,000       15,661       15,196      100,000
       9      28,945       8,653      8,305      100,000     12,600     12,251       100,000       18,167       17,818      100,000
      10      33,017       8,925      8,925      100,000     13,716     13,716       100,000       20,805       20,805      100,000
      11      37,293       8,996      8,996      100,000     14,708     14,708       100,000       23,587       23,587      100,000
      12      41,782       8,851      8,851      100,000     15,556     15,556       100,000       26,529       26,529      100,000
      13      46,497       8,469      8,469      100,000     16,240     16,240       100,000       29,748       29,748      100,000
      14      51,446       7,826      7,826      100,000     16,730     16,730       100,000       33,197       33,197      100,000
      15      56,644       6,885      6,885      100,000     16,989     16,989       100,000       36,908       36,908      100,000
      16      62,101       5,596      5,596      100,000     16,966     16,966       100,000       40,917       40,917      100,000
      17      67,831       3,893      3,893      100,000     16,591     16,591       100,000       45,266       45,266      100,000
      18      73,848       1,689      1,689      100,000     15,776     15,776       100,000       50,008       50,008      100,000
      19      80,165         (*)        (*)          (*)     14,416     14,416       100,000       55,221       55,221      100,000
      20      86,798         (*)        (*)          (*)     12,393     12,393       100,000       61,017       61,017      100,000
      21      93,763         (*)        (*)          (*)      9,571      9,571       100,000       67,554       67,554      100,000
      22     101,076         (*)        (*)          (*)      5,787      5,787       100,000       75,040       75,040      100,000
      23     108,755         (*)        (*)          (*)        836        836       100,000       83,755       83,755      100,000
      24     116,818         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       94,068       94,068      100,000
      25     125,284         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      105,902      105,902      111,197
      26     134,173         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      118,857      118,857      124,800
      27     143,506         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      133,024      133,024      139,675
      28     153,307         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      148,495      148,495      155,920
      29     163,597         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      165,367      165,367      173,635
      30     174,402         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      183,741      183,741      192,928
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       51
<PAGE>   55

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                  $750 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>   
       1         788         388          0       50,388        420          0        50,420          452            0       50,452
       2       1,614         847        273       50,847        937        363        50,937        1,032          458       51,032
       3       2,483       1,286        770       51,286      1,464        948        51,464        1,657        1,141       51,657
       4       3,394       1,700      1,241       51,700      1,995      1,536        51,995        2,327        1,868       52,327
       5       4,351       2,089      1,688       52,089      2,529      2,128        52,529        3,046        2,645       53,046
       6       5,357       2,454      2,110       52,454      3,068      2,724        53,068        3,819        3,475       53,819
       7       6,412       2,801      2,514       52,801      3,617      3,330        53,617        4,657        4,370       54,657
       8       7,520       3,123      2,893       53,123      4,170      3,941        54,170        5,560        5,331       55,560
       9       8,683       3,422      3,250       53,422      4,729      4,556        54,729        6,536        6,363       56,536
      10       9,905       3,697      3,697       53,697      5,291      5,291        55,291        7,590        7,590       57,590
      11      11,188       3,944      3,944       53,944      5,852      5,852        55,852        8,726        8,726       58,726
      12      12,535       4,161      4,161       54,161      6,411      6,411        56,411        9,949        9,949       59,949
      13      13,949       4,344      4,344       54,344      6,962      6,962        56,962       11,264       11,264       61,264
      14      15,434       4,489      4,489       54,489      7,499      7,499        57,499       12,674       12,674       62,674
      15      16,993       4,585      4,585       54,585      8,013      8,013        58,013       14,179       14,179       64,179
      16      18,630       4,635      4,635       54,635      8,501      8,501        58,501       15,788       15,788       65,788
      17      20,349       4,630      4,630       54,630      8,955      8,955        58,955       17,502       17,502       67,502
      18      22,154       4,560      4,560       54,560      9,359      9,359        59,359       19,320       19,320       69,320
      19      24,049       4,425      4,425       54,425      9,714      9,714        59,714       21,253       21,253       71,253
      20      26,039       4,217      4,217       54,217     10,005     10,005        60,005       23,301       23,301       73,301
      21      28,129       3,932      3,932       53,932     10,225     10,225        60,225       25,469       25,469       75,469
      22      30,323       3,560      3,560       53,560     10,361     10,361        60,361       27,845       27,845       77,845
      23      32,626       3,092      3,092       53,092     10,396     10,396        60,396       30,360       30,360       80,360
      24      35,045       2,517      2,517       52,517     10,314     10,314        60,314       33,015       33,015       83,015
      25      37,585       1,837      1,837       51,837     10,110     10,110        60,110       35,825       35,825       85,825
      26      40,252       1,041      1,041       51,041      9,767      9,767        59,767       38,794       38,794       88,794
      27      43,052         103        103       50,103      9,248      9,248        59,248       41,907       41,907       91,907
      28      45,992         (*)        (*)          (*)      8,546      8,546        58,546       45,178       45,178       95,178
      29      49,079         (*)        (*)          (*)      7,639      7,639        57,639       48,610       48,610       98,610
      30      52,321         (*)        (*)          (*)      6,508      6,508        56,508       52,209       52,209      102,209
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       52
<PAGE>   56

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                  $750 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>            <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>   
       1         788         173          0       50,173        198          0        50,198          223            0       50,223
       2       1,614         533          0       50,533        600         27        50,600          671           97       50,671
       3       2,483         868        352       50,868      1,000        483        51,000        1,143          627       51,143
       4       3,394       1,176        717       51,176      1,394        935        51,394        1,641        1,182       51,641
       5       4,351       1,455      1,053       51,455      1,781      1,379        51,781        2,164        1,763       52,164
       6       5,357       1,703      1,359       51,703      2,156      1,812        52,156        2,712        2,368       52,712
       7       6,412       1,917      1,630       51,917      2,517      2,230        52,517        3,283        2,996       53,283
       8       7,520       2,092      1,862       52,092      2,856      2,627        52,856        3,875        3,645       53,875
       9       8,683       2,223      2,051       52,223      3,168      2,996        53,168        4,483        4,311       54,483
      10       9,905       2,308      2,308       52,308      3,447      3,447        53,447        5,106        5,106       55,106
      11      11,188       2,341      2,341       52,341      3,686      3,686        53,686        5,738        5,738       55,738
      12      12,535       2,318      2,318       52,318      3,878      3,878        53,878        6,375        6,375       56,375
      13      13,949       2,239      2,239       52,239      4,019      4,019        54,019        7,016        7,016       57,016
      14      15,434       2,096      2,096       52,096      4,099      4,099        54,099        7,653        7,653       57,653
      15      16,993       1,883      1,883       51,883      4,108      4,108        54,108        8,278        8,278       58,278
      16      18,630       1,592      1,592       51,592      4,033      4,033        54,033        8,879        8,879       58,879
      17      20,349       1,216      1,216       51,216      3,862      3,862        53,862        9,445        9,445       59,445
      18      22,154         742        742       50,742      3,576      3,576        53,576        9,957        9,957       59,957
      19      24,049         157        157       50,157      3,156      3,156        53,156       10,396       10,396       60,396
      20      26,039         (*)        (*)          (*)      2,582      2,582        52,582       10,738       10,738       60,738
      21      28,129         (*)        (*)          (*)      1,835      1,835        51,835       10,961       10,961       60,961
      22      30,323         (*)        (*)          (*)        894        894        50,894       11,040       11,040       61,040
      23      32,626         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       10,947       10,947       60,947
      24      35,045         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       10,649       10,649       60,649
      25      37,585         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       10,103       10,103       60,103
      26      40,252         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        9,254        9,254       59,254
      27      43,052         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        8,036        8,036       58,036
      28      45,992         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        6,366        6,366       56,366
      29      49,079         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        4,151        4,151       54,151
      30      52,321         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        1,298        1,298       51,298
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       53
<PAGE>   57

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                $1,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>            <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       1,575         943         46      100,943      1,012        115       101,012        1,082          184      101,082
       2       3,229       1,936      1,039      101,936      2,135      1,237       102,135        2,342        1,444      102,342
       3       4,965       2,889      2,081      102,889      3,280      2,472       103,280        3,705        2,897      103,705
       4       6,788       3,802      3,084      103,802      4,450      3,732       104,450        5,181        4,463      105,181
       5       8,703       4,677      4,048      104,677      5,645      5,017       105,645        6,781        6,153      106,781
       6      10,713       5,514      4,975      105,514      6,867      6,328       106,867        8,520        7,981      108,520
       7      12,824       6,302      5,853      106,302      8,105      7,656       108,105       10,397        9,948      110,397
       8      15,040       7,031      6,672      107,031      9,346      8,987       109,346       12,415       12,056      112,415
       9      17,367       7,701      7,431      107,701     10,593     10,324       110,593       14,587       14,318      114,587
      10      19,810       8,302      8,302      108,302     11,832     11,832       111,832       16,919       16,919      116,919
      11      22,376       8,848      8,848      108,848     13,078     13,078       113,078       19,438       19,438      119,438
      12      25,069       9,347      9,347      109,347     14,338     14,338       114,338       22,173       22,173      122,173
      13      27,898       9,803      9,803      109,803     15,614     15,614       115,614       25,147       25,147      125,147
      14      30,868      10,195     10,195      110,195     16,886     16,886       116,886       28,447       28,447      128,447
      15      33,986      10,502     10,502      110,502     18,131     18,131       118,131       32,010       32,010      132,010
      16      37,261      10,731     10,731      110,731     19,353     19,353       119,353       35,866       35,866      135,866
      17      40,699      10,873     10,873      110,873     20,541     20,541       120,541       40,037       40,037      140,037
      18      44,309      10,913     10,913      110,913     21,677     21,677       121,677       44,539       44,539      144,539
      19      48,099      10,847     10,847      110,847     22,750     22,750       122,750       49,397       49,397      149,397
      20      52,079      10,679     10,679      110,679     23,765     23,765       123,765       54,655       54,655      154,655
      21      56,258      10,398     10,398      110,398     24,701     24,701       124,701       60,337       60,337      160,337
      22      60,646       9,972      9,972      109,972     25,523     25,523       125,523       66,454       66,454      166,454
      23      65,253       9,394      9,394      109,394     26,295     26,295       126,295       73,040       73,040      173,040
      24      70,091       8,636      8,636      108,636     26,908     26,908       126,908       80,114       80,114      180,114
      25      75,170       7,694      7,694      107,694     27,344     27,344       127,344       87,716       87,716      187,716
      26      80,504       6,560      6,560      106,560     27,585     27,585       127,585       95,891       95,891      195,891
      27      86,104       5,199      5,199      105,199     27,582     27,582       127,582      104,658      104,658      204,658
      28      91,984       3,604      3,604      103,604     27,315     27,315       127,315      114,068      114,068      214,068
      29      98,158       1,762      1,762      101,762     26,752     26,752       126,752      124,170      124,170      224,170
      30     104,641         (*)        (*)          (*)     25,840     25,840       125,840      134,993      134,993      234,993
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       54
<PAGE>   58

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                $1,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 45

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       1,575         747          0      100,747        809          0       100,809          872            0      100,872
       2       3,229       1,661        763      101,661      1,839        941       101,839        2,025        1,127      102,025
       3       4,965       2,530      1,722      102,530      2,881      2,073       102,881        3,262        2,454      103,262
       4       6,788       3,352      2,634      103,352      3,933      3,215       103,933        4,589        3,871      104,589
       5       8,703       4,124      3,496      104,124      4,993      4,365       104,993        6,013        5,385      106,013
       6      10,713       4,842      4,304      104,842      6,055      5,517       106,055        7,537        6,999      107,537
       7      12,824       5,502      5,053      105,502      7,114      6,665       107,114        9,166        8,717      109,166
       8      15,040       6,097      5,738      106,097      8,162      7,803       108,162       10,902       10,543      110,902
       9      17,367       6,619      6,350      106,619      9,190      8,921       109,190       12,749       12,480      112,749
      10      19,810       7,065      7,065      107,065     10,191     10,191       110,191       14,709       14,709      114,709
      11      22,376       7,426      7,426      107,426     11,155     11,155       111,155       16,786       16,786      116,786
      12      25,069       7,697      7,697      107,697     12,073     12,073       112,073       18,983       18,983      118,983
      13      27,898       7,874      7,874      107,874     12,937     12,937       112,937       21,309       21,309      121,309
      14      30,868       7,950      7,950      107,950     13,737     13,737       113,737       23,764       23,764      123,764
      15      33,986       7,913      7,913      107,913     14,455     14,455       114,455       26,350       26,350      126,350
      16      37,261       7,752      7,752      107,752     15,075     15,075       115,075       29,154       29,154      129,154
      17      40,699       7,455      7,455      107,455     15,578     15,578       115,578       32,103       32,103      132,103
      18      44,309       7,004      7,004      107,004     15,937     15,937       115,937       35,191       35,191      135,191
      19      48,099       6,379      6,379      106,379     16,125     16,125       116,125       38,408       38,408      138,408
      20      52,079       5,563      5,563      105,563     16,112     16,112       116,112       41,745       41,745      141,745
      21      56,258       4,539      4,539      104,539     15,871     15,871       115,871       45,197       45,197      145,197
      22      60,646       3,293      3,293      103,293     15,371     15,371       115,371       48,752       48,752      148,752
      23      65,253       1,809      1,809      101,809     14,585     14,585       114,585       52,405       52,405      152,405
      24      70,091          70         70      100,070     13,475     13,475       113,475       56,141       56,141      156,141
      25      75,170         (*)        (*)          (*)     11,996     11,996       111,996       59,933       59,933      159,933
      26      80,504         (*)        (*)          (*)     10,089     10,089       110,089       63,745       63,745      163,745
      27      86,104         (*)        (*)          (*)      7,684      7,684       107,684       67,523       67,523      167,523
      28      91,984         (*)        (*)          (*)      4,691      4,691       104,691       71,195       71,195      171,195
      29      98,158         (*)        (*)          (*)      1,020      1,020       101,020       74,681       74,681      174,681
      30     104,641         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       77,902       77,902      177,902
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       55
<PAGE>   59

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                 $1200 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>   
       1       1,260         635          0       50,635        687          0        50,687          738           45       50,738
       2       2,583       1,324        631       51,324      1,468        775        51,468        1,619          926       51,619
       3       3,972       1,971      1,347       51,971      2,252      1,628        52,252        2,557        1,933       52,557
       4       5,431       2,571      2,016       52,571      3,031      2,477        53,031        3,552        2,997       53,552
       5       6,962       3,115      2,630       53,115      3,796      3,311        53,796        4,599        4,114       54,599
       6       8,570       3,606      3,190       53,606      4,548      4,132        54,548        5,704        5,288       55,704
       7      10,259       4,034      3,687       54,034      5,275      4,929        55,275        6,864        6,517       56,864
       8      12,032       4,389      4,112       54,389      5,966      5,688        55,966        8,071        7,794       58,071
       9      13,893       4,674      4,466       54,674      6,618      6,410        56,618        9,331        9,123       59,331
      10      15,848       4,878      4,878       54,878      7,219      7,219        57,219       10,638       10,638       60,638
      11      17,901       4,997      4,997       54,997      7,763      7,763        57,763       11,991       11,991       61,991
      12      20,056       5,023      5,023       55,023      8,235      8,235        58,235       13,384       13,384       63,384
      13      22,318       4,946      4,946       54,946      8,621      8,621        58,621       14,809       14,809       64,809
      14      24,694       4,756      4,756       54,756      8,905      8,905        58,905       16,256       16,256       66,256
      15      27,189       4,454      4,454       54,454      9,083      9,083        59,083       17,728       17,728       67,728
      16      29,808       4,030      4,030       54,030      9,137      9,137        59,137       19,213       19,213       69,213
      17      32,559       3,458      3,458       53,458      9,033      9,033        59,033       20,683       20,683       70,683
      18      35,447       2,738      2,738       52,738      8,762      8,762        58,762       22,135       22,135       72,135
      19      38,479       1,862      1,862       51,862      8,305      8,305        58,305       23,554       23,554       73,554
      20      41,663         819        819       50,819      7,643      7,643        57,643       24,924       24,924       74,924
      21      45,006         (*)        (*)          (*)      6,740      6,740        56,740       26,215       26,215       76,215
      22      48,517         (*)        (*)          (*)      5,562      5,562        55,562       27,476       27,476       77,476
      23      52,202         (*)        (*)          (*)      4,070      4,070        54,070       28,598       28,598       78,598
      24      56,073         (*)        (*)          (*)      2,233      2,233        52,233       29,544       29,544       79,544
      25      60,136         (*)        (*)          (*)         10         10        50,010       30,272       30,272       80,272
      26      64,403         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       30,730       30,730       80,730
      27      68,883         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       30,863       30,863       80,863
      28      73,587         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       30,617       30,617       80,617
      29      78,527         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       29,917       29,917       79,917
      30      83,713         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       28,677       28,677       78,677
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       56
<PAGE>   60

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                 $1200 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $50,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>   
       1       1,260         280          0       50,280        319          0        50,319          360            0       50,360
       2       2,583         708         15       50,708        811        118        50,811          919          226       50,919
       3       3,972       1,071        447       51,071      1,263        639        51,263        1,474          850       51,474
       4       5,431       1,364        809       51,364      1,668      1,113        51,668        2,016        1,461       52,016
       5       6,962       1,579      1,094       51,579      2,015      1,530        52,015        2,535        2,050       52,535
       6       8,570       1,709      1,293       51,709      2,293      1,877        52,293        3,021        2,605       53,021
       7      10,259       1,747      1,401       51,747      2,489      2,143        52,489        3,460        3,114       53,460
       8      12,032       1,680      1,403       51,680      2,586      2,309        52,586        3,833        3,555       53,833
       9      13,893       1,496      1,288       51,496      2,565      2,357        52,565        4,117        3,909       54,117
      10      15,848       1,183      1,183       51,183      2,407      2,407        52,407        4,290        4,290       54,290
      11      17,901         730        730       50,730      2,093      2,093        52,093        4,326        4,326       54,326
      12      20,056         128        128       50,128      1,603      1,603        51,603        4,199        4,199       54,199
      13      22,318         (*)        (*)          (*)        919        919        50,919        3,879        3,879       53,879
      14      24,694         (*)        (*)          (*)         16         16        50,016        3,332        3,332       53,332
      15      27,189         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        2,511        2,511       52,511
      16      29,808         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        1,360        1,360       51,360
      17      32,559         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      18      35,447         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      19      38,479         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      20      41,663         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      21      45,006         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      22      48,517         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      23      52,202         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      24      56,073         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      25      60,136         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      26      64,403         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      27      68,883         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      28      73,587         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      29      78,527         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      30      83,713         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       57
<PAGE>   61

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                $2,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                 CURRENT VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       2,625       1,521        358      101,521      1,634        471       101,634        1,747          585      101,747
       2       5,381       3,068      1,905      103,068      3,390      2,228       103,390        3,727        2,565      103,727
       3       8,275       4,553      3,507      104,553      5,185      4,138       105,185        5,870        4,824      105,870
       4      11,314       5,957      5,027      105,957      6,995      6,065       106,995        8,168        7,238      108,168
       5      14,505       7,260      6,446      107,260      8,803      7,989       108,803       10,618        9,804      110,618
       6      17,855       8,467      7,770      108,467     10,611      9,913       110,611       13,236       12,538      113,236
       7      21,373       9,572      8,991      109,572     12,410     11,829       112,410       16,032       15,450      116,032
       8      25,066      10,558     10,093      110,558     14,182     13,717       114,182       19,004       18,539      119,004
       9      28,945      11,422     11,073      111,422     15,920     15,571       115,920       22,165       21,816      122,165
      10      33,017      12,169     12,169      112,169     17,625     17,625       117,625       25,537       25,537      125,537
      11      37,293      12,787     12,787      112,787     19,282     19,282       119,282       29,216       29,216      129,216
      12      41,782      13,245     13,245      113,245     20,855     20,855       120,855       33,119       33,119      133,119
      13      46,497      13,537     13,537      113,537     22,329     22,329       122,329       37,260       37,260      137,260
      14      51,446      13,634     13,634      113,634     23,672     23,672       123,672       41,634       41,634      141,634
      15      56,644      13,532     13,532      113,532     24,866     24,866       124,866       46,253       46,253      146,253
      16      62,101      13,225     13,225      113,225     25,897     25,897       125,897       51,134       51,134      151,134
      17      67,831      12,676     12,676      112,676     26,801     26,801       126,801       56,262       56,262      156,262
      18      73,848      11,880     11,880      111,880     27,481     27,481       127,481       61,654       61,654      161,654
      19      80,165      10,824     10,824      110,824     27,908     27,908       127,908       67,317       67,317      167,317
      20      86,798       9,472      9,472      109,472     28,031     28,031       128,031       73,238       73,238      173,238
      21      93,763       7,801      7,801      107,801     27,806     27,806       127,806       79,414       79,414      179,414
      22     101,076       5,739      5,739      105,739     27,138     27,138       127,138       85,789       85,789      185,789
      23     108,755       3,246      3,246      103,246     25,958     25,958       125,958       92,333       92,333      192,333
      24     116,818         283        283      100,283     24,195     24,195       124,195       99,016       99,016      199,016
      25     125,284         (*)        (*)          (*)     21,690     21,690       121,690      105,789      105,789      205,789
      26     134,173         (*)        (*)          (*)     18,438     18,438       118,438      112,609      112,609      212,609
      27     143,506         (*)        (*)          (*)     14,369     14,369       114,369      119,439      119,439      219,439
      28     153,307         (*)        (*)          (*)      9,384      9,384       109,384      126,214      126,214      226,214
      29     163,597         (*)        (*)          (*)      3,380      3,380       103,380      132,863      132,863      232,863
      30     174,402         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)      139,270      139,270      239,270
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   CURRENT VALUES REFLECT CURRENT COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A MONTHLY
      $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND $5
      THEREAFTER. CURRENT VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL PREMIUMS
      UP TO THE BREAK POINT PREMIUM AND 4% ON PREMIUMS IN EXCESS OF BREAK POINT
      FOR ANY SINGLE POLICY YEAR.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       58
<PAGE>   62

                             DEATH BENEFIT OPTION 2
                $2,500 ANNUAL PREMIUM: $100,000 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: NON-TOBACCO: AGE 55

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 0% Hypothetical                    6% Hypothetical                       12% Hypothetical
                              Gross Investment Return            Gross Investment Return               Gross Investment Return
                              -----------------------            -----------------------               -----------------------

            Premiums
           Paid Plus                   Cash                               Cash                                    Cash
  Policy    Interest        Cash       Surr        Death       Cash       Surr         Death         Cash         Surr        Death
    Year       at 5%       Value      Value      Benefit      Value      Value       Benefit        Value        Value      Benefit
    ----       -----       -----      -----      -------      -----      -----       -------        -----        -----      -------
<S>           <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>    
       1       2,625       1,196         33      101,196      1,299        136       101,299        1,402          239      101,402
       2       5,381       2,495      1,333      102,495      2,780      1,617       102,780        3,078        1,915      103,078
       3       8,275       3,684      2,638      103,684      4,232      3,186       104,232        4,829        3,782      104,829
       4      11,314       4,755      3,825      104,755      5,643      4,713       105,643        6,651        5,721      106,651
       5      14,505       5,695      4,882      105,695      6,999      6,186       106,999        8,540        7,727      108,540
       6      17,855       6,496      5,799      106,496      8,285      7,587       108,285       10,488        9,791      110,488
       7      21,373       7,145      6,564      107,145      9,481      8,900       109,481       12,486       11,905      112,486
       8      25,066       7,623      7,158      107,623     10,563     10,098       110,563       14,516       14,051      114,516
       9      28,945       7,912      7,563      107,912     11,503     11,154       111,503       16,558       16,210      116,558
      10      33,017       7,994      7,994      107,994     12,275     12,275       112,275       18,593       18,593      118,593
      11      37,293       7,854      7,854      107,854     12,851     12,851       112,851       20,598       20,598      120,598
      12      41,782       7,476      7,476      107,476     13,204     13,204       113,204       22,551       22,551      122,551
      13      46,497       6,846      6,846      106,846     13,306     13,306       113,306       24,427       24,427      124,427
      14      51,446       5,947      5,947      105,947     13,122     13,122       113,122       26,195       26,195      126,195
      15      56,644       4,750      4,750      104,750     12,608     12,608       112,608       27,897       27,897      127,897
      16      62,101       3,219      3,219      103,219     11,706     11,706       111,706       29,400       29,400      129,400
      17      67,831       1,308      1,308      101,308     10,348     10,348       110,348       30,627       30,627      130,627
      18      73,848         (*)        (*)          (*)      8,448      8,448       108,448       31,482       31,482      131,482
      19      80,165         (*)        (*)          (*)      5,915      5,915       105,915       31,856       31,856      131,856
      20      86,798         (*)        (*)          (*)      2,666      2,666       102,666       31,640       31,640      131,640
      21      93,763         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       30,725       30,725      130,725
      22     101,076         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       28,996       28,996      128,996
      23     108,755         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       26,330       26,330      126,330
      24     116,818         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       22,587       22,587      122,587
      25     125,284         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       17,520       17,520      117,520
      26     134,173         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)       10,976       10,976      110,976
      27     143,506         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)        2,678        2,678      102,678
      28     153,307         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      29     163,597         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
      30     174,402         (*)        (*)          (*)        (*)        (*)           (*)          (*)          (*)          (*)
</TABLE>

(1)   NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)   GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT GUARANTEED COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES AND A
      MONTHLY $25 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST POLICY YEAR AND
      $7.50 THEREAFTER. GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT A 6% OF PREMIUM CHARGE ON ALL
      PREMIUMS.

(3)   NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
      RETURN LESS ALL CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS SHOWN IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)   UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN. ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION. THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM
THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6%, AND 12% OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL POLICY
YEARS.. NO REPRESENTATION CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST THAT THESE
HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR SUSTAINED OVER
ANY PERIOD OF TIME.
    


                                       59
<PAGE>   63

<PAGE>   1

                          Independent Auditors' Report
                          ----------------------------

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and 
  Contract Owners of Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3:

      We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 as of December 31,
1996, and the related statements of operations and changes in contract owners'
equity and schedules of changes in unit value for each of the years in the
three year period then ended. These financial statements and schedules of
changes in unit value are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and
schedules of changes in unit value based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and schedules of
changes in unit value are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities
owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with the transfer agents of
the underlying mutual funds. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, the financial statements and schedules of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 as of December 31, 1996, and the
results of its operations and its changes in contract owners' equity and the
schedules of changes in unit value for each of the years in the three year
period then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                                         KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
February 7, 1997

<PAGE>   2


                        NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
          STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY

                                December 31, 1996

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
ASSETS:

   Investments at market value:
      The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. (DrySRGro)
         1,525 shares (cost $26,854) ...............................................    30,631
      Dreyfus Stock Index Fund (DryStkIx)
         9,742 shares (cost $171,041) ..............................................    197,563
      Fidelity VIP - Equity-Income Portfolio (FidVIPEI)
         11,386 shares (cost $218,226) .............................................    239,440
      Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
         10,012 shares (cost $294,741) .............................................    311,771
      Fidelity VIP - High Income Portfolio (FidVIPHI)
         3,028 shares (cost $35,628) ...............................................     37,911
      Fidelity VIP - Overseas Portfolio (FidVIPOv)
         1,059 shares (cost $18,065) ...............................................     19,951
      Fidelity VIP-II - Asset Manager Portfolio (FidVIPAM)
         6,055 shares (cost $91,797) ...............................................    102,510
      Fidelity VIP-II - Contrafund Portfolio (FidVIPCon)
         7,084 shares (cost $102,557) ..............................................    117,319
      Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
         276,603 shares (cost $3,273,884) ..........................................  4,503,103
      Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
         134,748 shares (cost $1,465,741) ..........................................  1,487,613
      Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
         397,313 shares (cost $397,313) ............................................    397,313
      Nationwide SAT - Small Company Fund (NSATSmCo)
         2,883 shares (cost $38,437) ...............................................     40,043
      Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
         961,579 shares (cost $10,380,206) ......................................... 12,760,152
      Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
         792 shares (cost $11,091) .................................................     11,129
      Neuberger & Berman - Growth Portfolio (NBAMTGro)
         2,352 shares (cost $60,933) ...............................................     60,637
      Neuberger & Berman - Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio (NBAMTLMat)
         75,687 shares (cost $1,158,239) ...........................................  1,204,929
      Neuberger & Berman - Partners Portfolio (NBAMTPart)
         3,311 shares (cost $47,877) ...............................................     54,571
      Oppenheimer - Bond Fund (OppBdFd)
         685 shares (cost $7,880) ..................................................      7,968
      Oppenheimer - Global Securities Fund (OppGISec)
         1,301 shares (cost $20,550) ...............................................     22,945
     Oppenheimer - Multiple Strategies Fund (OppMult)
         271 shares (cost $3,929) ..................................................      4,231
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                <C>
      Strong Special Fund II, Inc. (StSpec2)
         3,074 shares (cost $52,663) ............................................        59,143
      Strong VIF - Strong Discovery Fund II (StDisc2)
         1,455 shares (cost $16,865) ............................................        15,718
      Strong VIF - Strong International Stock Fund II (StIntStk2)
         1,173 shares (cost $13,237) ............................................        13,173
      TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
         128,928 shares (cost $706,467) .........................................       810,955
      TCI Portfolios - TCI Balanced (TCIBal)
         1,707 shares (cost $11,909) ............................................        12,872
      TCI Portfolios - TCI Growth (TCIGro)
         5,249 shares (cost $59,640) ............................................        53,745
      TCI Portfolios - TCI International (TCIInt)
         4,169 shares (cost $23,112) ............................................        24,846
      Van Eck - Gold and Natural Resources Fund (VEGoldNR)
         1,161 shares (cost $19,649) ............................................        19,415
      Van Eck - Worldwide Bond Fund (VEWrldBd)
         153 shares (cost $1,636) ...............................................         1,698
      Van Kampen American Capital - Real Estate Securities Fund (VKACRESec)
         311 shares (cost $3,856) ...............................................         4,595
      Warburg Pincus - International Equity Portfolio (WPIntEq)
         1,696 shares (cost $19,395) ............................................        19,473
      Warburg Pincus - Small Company Growth Portfolio (WPSmCoGr)
         3,764 shares (cost $46,999) ............................................        53,630
                                                                                   ------------
            Total investments ...................................................    22,700,993

   Accounts receivable ..........................................................         1,688
                                                                                   ------------
            Total assets ........................................................    22,702,681
                                                                                   ============
Contract Owners' Equity .........................................................  $ 22,702,681
                                                                                   ============
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contract owners' equity represented by:                        UNITS         UNIT VALUE
   <S>                                                          <C>          <C>          <C>
   The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. ......      1,769      17.319589    $   30,638

   Dreyfus Stock Index Fund ................................     11,799      16.744674       197,570

   Fidelity VIP - Equity-Income Portfolio ..................      9,508      25.185570       239,464

   Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio .........................     12,891      24.186560       311,789

   Fidelity VIP - High Income Portfolio ....................      1,607      23.588786        37,907

   Fidelity VIP - Overseas Portfolio .......................      1,301      15.324813        19,938

   Fidelity VIP-II - Asset Manager Portfolio ...............      5,640      18.169993       102,479

   Fidelity VIP-II - Contrafund Portfolio ..................      8,785      13.356323       117,335

   Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund ..............    244,631      18.410667     4,503,820

   Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund ...................     96,709      15.383251     1,487,699

   Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund ......................     32,529      12.214743       397,333

   Nationwide SAT - Small Company Fund .....................      2,876      13.915643        40,021

   Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund ......................    580,335      21.988773    12,760,855

   Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio .................     80,273      15.011230     1,204,996

   Neuberger & Berman - Growth Portfolio ...................      3,508      17.282005        60,625

   Neuberger & Berman - Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio ....        819      13.551318        11,099

   Neuberger & Berman - Partners Portfolio .................      3,122      17.469360        54,539

   Oppenheimer - Bond Fund .................................        505      15.764821         7,961

   Oppenheimer - Global Securities Fund ....................      1,704      13.457220        22,931

   Oppenheimer - Multiple Strategies Fund ..................        229      18.446363         4,224

   Strong Special Fund II, Inc. ............................      2,742      21.575419        59,160

   Strong VIF - Strong Discovery Fund II ...................        952      16.514861        15,722

   Strong VIF - Strong International Stock Fund II .........      1,185      11.208230        13,282

   TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage ..........................     30,540      14.210999       434,004

   TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (Depositor) (note 1a) ....     25,000      15.079515       376,988

   TCI Portfolios - TCI Balanced ...........................        879      14.642920        12,871

   TCI Portfolios - TCI Growth .............................      3,507      15.327392        53,753

   TCI Portfolios - TCI International ......................      2,090      11.890858        24,852

   Van Eck - Gold and Natural Resources Fund ...............      1,062      18.284590        19,418

   Van Eck - Worldwide Bond Fund ...........................        126      13.479157         1,698

   Van Kampen American Capital -
      Real Estate Securities Fund ..........................        306      15.045195         4,604

   Warburg Pincus - International Equity Portfolio .........      1,670      11.660648        19,473

   Warburg Pincus - Small Company Growth Portfolio .........      3,809      14.080553        53,633
                                                                =======     ==========   -----------
                                                                                         $22,702,681
                                                                                         ===========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

<PAGE>   5


                       NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
        STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY

                  Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996               1995            1994
                                                                 ------------       ------------     ----------- 
<S>                                                              <C>                 <C>              <C>
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY:
   Reinvested capital gains and dividends ...................     $ 1,277,321         1,084,513          494,868
   Mortality and expense charges (note 3) ...................        (159,468)         (119,641)         (80,632)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
      Net investment activity ...............................       1,117,853           964,872          414,236
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------

   Proceeds from mutual fund shares sold ....................       1,904,080         2,252,228        4,179,645
   Cost of mutual fund shares sold ..........................      (1,696,815)       (2,113,393)      (4,147,943)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
      Realized gain (loss) on investments ...................         207,265           138,835           31,702
   Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments ..........       2,051,091         2,274,433         (556,146)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
      Net gain (loss) on investments ........................       2,258,356         2,413,268         (524,444)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
         Net increase (decrease) in contract owners'
            equity resulting from operations ................       3,376,209         3,378,140         (110,208)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------

EQUITY TRANSACTIONS:
   Purchase payments received from contract owners ..........       4,940,306         4,661,075        8,317,542
   Surrenders (note 2d) .....................................        (641,251)         (427,125)        (172,813)
   Death benefits (note 4) ..................................          (6,306)          (11,836)         (17,276)
   Policy loans (net of repayments) (note 5) ................        (635,496)         (212,115)         (85,214)
   Deductions for surrender charges (note 2d) ...............        (145,828)          (71,008)         (59,849)
   Redemptions to pay cost of insurance charges
      and administrative charges (notes 2b and 2c) ..........      (2,089,346)       (2,073,851)      (2,524,466)
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
         Net equity transactions ............................       1,422,079         1,865,140        5,457,924
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------

NET CHANGE IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY .......................       4,798,288         5,243,280        5,347,716
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY BEGINNING OF PERIOD .................      17,904,393        12,661,113        7,313,397
                                                                 ------------        ----------       ----------
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY END OF PERIOD .......................    $ 22,702,681        17,904,393       12,661,113
                                                                 ============        ==========       ==========
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

<PAGE>   6

                       NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

(1)  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     (a) Organization and Nature of Operations

         The Nationwide VLISeparate Account-3 (the Account) was established
         pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of Nationwide Life
         Insurance Company (the Company) on August 8, 1984. The Account has
         been registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment
         Company Act of 1940. On August 21, 1991, the Company (Depositor)
         transferred to the Account 50,000 shares of TCI Portfolios, Inc. - TCI
         Advantage, for which it was credited with 25,000 accumulation units.
         The value of the accumulation units purchased by the Company on August
         21, 1991 was $250,000. The Company offers Modified Single Premium and
         Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policies through the Account.
         The primary distribution for the contracts is through Company Agents;
         however, other distributors may be utilized.

     (b) The Contracts

         Only contracts with a front-end sales load, a surrender charge and
         certain other fees have been purchased. See note 2 for a discussion of
         policy charges and note 3 for asset charges.

         Contract owners may invest in the following funds:
         The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. (DrySRGro)
         Dreyfus Stock Index Fund (DryStkIx)
         Portfolio of the Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund (Dreyfus VIF);
            Dreyfus VIF - Growth and Income Portfolio (DryGroInc)

         Portfolios of the Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund (Fidelity
         VIP);
            Fidelity VIP - Equity-Income Portfolio (FidVIPEI)
            Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
            Fidelity VIP - High Income Portfolio (FidVIPHI)
            Fidelity VIP - Overseas Portfolio (FidVIPOv)

         Portfolios of the Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II
         (Fidelity VIP-II);
            Fidelity VIP-II - Asset Manager Portfolio (FidVIPAM)
            Fidelity VIP-II - Contrafund Portfolio (FidVIPCon)

         Funds of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust (Nationwide SAT)
         (managed for a fee by an affiliated investment advisor);
            Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
            Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
            Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
            Nationwide SAT - Small Company Fund (NSATSmCo)
            Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)

         Portfolios of the Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust
         (Neuberger & Berman);
            Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
            Neuberger & Berman - Growth Portfolio (NBAMTGro)
            Neuberger & Berman - Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio (NBAMTLMat)
            Neuberger & Berman - Partners Portfolio (NBAMTPart)

         Funds of the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (Oppenheimer);
            Oppenheimer - Bond Fund (OppBdFd)
            Oppenheimer - Global Securities Fund (OppGlSec)
            Oppenheimer - Multiple Strategies Fund (OppMult)

         Strong Special Fund II, Inc. (StSpec2)

         Funds of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (Strong VIF);
            Strong VIF - Strong Discovery Fund II (StDisc2)
            Strong VIF - Strong International Stock Fund II (StIntStk2)

<PAGE>   7

         Portfolios of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. (TCI Portfolios);
            TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
            TCI Portfolios - TCI Balanced (TCIBal)
            TCI Portfolios - TCI Growth (TCIGro)
            TCI Portfolios - TCI International (TCIInt)
            TCI Portfolios - TCI Value (TCIValue)

         Funds of the Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust (Van Eck) (formerly Van
         Eck Investment Trust);
            Van Eck - Gold and Natural Resources Fund (VEGoldNR)
            Van Eck - Worldwide Bond Fund (VEWrldBd) (formerly Van Eck - Global 
              Bond Fund (VEGlobBd))
            Van Eck - Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund (VEWrldEMkt)

         Fund of the Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust (Van
         Kampen American Capital);
            Van Kampen American Capital - Real Estate Securities Fund
              (VKACRESec)

         Portfolios of the Warburg Pincus Trust (Warburg Pincus);
            Warburg Pincus - International Equity Portfolio (WPIntEq)
            Warburg Pincus - Post Venture Capital Portfolio (WPPVenCap)
            Warburg Pincus - Small Company Growth Portfolio (WPSmCoGr)

         At December 31, 1996, contract owners have invested in all of the
         above funds except for Dreyfus VIF - Growth and Income Portfolio, TCI
         Portfolios - TCI Value, Van Eck - Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund, and
         Warburg Pincus Post Venture Capital Portfolio. The contract owners'
         equity is affected by the investment results of each fund, equity
         transactions by contract owners and certain policy charges (see notes
         2 and 3). The accompanying financial statements include only contract
         owners' purchase payments pertaining to the variable portions of their
         contracts and exclude any purchase payments for fixed dollar benefits,
         the latter being included in the accounts of the Company.

     (c) Security Valuation, Transactions and Related Investment Income

         The market value of the underlying mutual funds is based on the
         closing net asset value per share at December 31, 1996. The cost of
         investments sold is determined on the specific identification basis.
         Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the
         order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on
         the ex-dividend date.

     (d) Federal Income Taxes

         Operations of the Account form a part of, and are taxed with,
         operations of the Company, which is taxed as a life insurance company
         under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company does
         not provide for income taxes within the Account. 

         Taxes are the responsibility of the contract owner upon termination or
         withdrawal.

     (e) Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

         The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
         accepted accounting principles may require management to make
         estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
         and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities,
         if any, at the date of the financial statements and the reported
         amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
         results could differ from those estimates.

     (f) Reclassifications

         Certain 1995 and 1994 amounts have been reclassified to conform with
         the current year presentation.

(2)  POLICY CHARGES

     (a) Deductions from Premium

         On flexible premium life insurance contracts, the Company deducts a
         charge for state premium taxes equal to 2.5% of all premiums received
         to cover the payment of these premium taxes. Additionally, the Company
         deducts a front-end sales load of up to 3.5% from each premium payment
         received. The Company may at its sole discretion reduce this sales
         loading.

     (b) Cost of Insurance

         A cost of insurance charge is assessed monthly against each contract.
         The amount of the charge is based upon age, sex, rate class and net
         amount at risk (death benefit less total contract value).


<PAGE>   8

     (c) Administrative Charges

         For flexible premium contracts, the Company currently deducts a
         monthly administrative charge of $25 during the first policy year and
         $5 per month thereafter (may deduct up to $7.50, maximum) to recover
         policy maintenance, accounting, record keeping and other
         administrative expenses. Additionally, the Company deducts an increase
         charge of $2.04 per year per $1,000 applied to any increase in the
         specified amount during the first 12 months after the increase becomes
         effective. 

         The above charges are assessed against each contract by liquidating
         units.

     (d) Surrender Charges

         Policy surrenders result in a redemption of the contract value from
         the Separate Account and payment of the surrender proceeds to the
         contract owner or designee. The surrender proceeds consist of the
         contract value, less any outstanding policy loans, and less a
         surrender charge, if applicable. The amount of the charge is based
         upon a specified percentage of the initial surrender charge which
         varies by issue age, sex and rate class. For flexible premium
         contracts, the charge is 100% of the initial surrender charge in the
         first year, declining to 30% of the initial surrender charge in the
         ninth year.

         No surrender charge is assessed on any contract surrendered after the
         ninth year. 

         The Company may waive the surrender charge for certain contracts in
         which the sales expenses normally associated with the distribution of a
         contract are not incurred. No charges were deducted from the initial
         funding, or from earnings thereon.

(3)  ASSET CHARGES

     The Company deducts a charge equal to an annual rate of .80%, with certain
     exceptions, to cover mortality and expense risk charges related to
     operations. On each policy anniversary beginning with the 10th, this
     charge is reduced to 0.50% on an annual basis provided that the cash
     surrender value of the contract is $25,000 or more on such anniversary.
     This charge is assessed through the unit value calculation.

(4)  DEATH BENEFITS

     Death benefits result in a redemption of the contract value from the
     Separate Account and payment of the death benefit proceeds, less any
     outstanding policy loans and policy charges, to the legal beneficiary. The
     excess of the death benefit proceeds over the contract value on the date
     of death is paid by the Company's general account.

(5)  POLICY LOANS (NET OF REPAYMENTS)

     Contract provisions allow contract owners to borrow 90% of a policy's cash
     surrender value. The contract is charged 6% on the outstanding loan and is
     due and payable in advance on the policy anniversary. 

     At the time the loan is granted, the amount of the loan plus interest, if
     any, is transferred from the Account to the Company's general account as
     collateral for the outstanding loan. Collateral amounts in the general
     account are credited with the stated rate of interest in effect at the time
     the loan is made, subject to a guaranteed minimum rate. Interest credited
     is paid by the Company's general account to the Account. Loan repayments
     result in a transfer of collateral back to the Account.

(6)  SCHEDULE I

     Schedule I presents the components of the change in the unit values, which
     are the basis for contract owners' equity. This schedule is presented in
     the following format:

         o    Beginning unit value - Jan. 1

         o    Reinvested capital gains and dividends
              (This amount reflects the increase in the unit value due to
              capital gains and dividend distributions from the underlying
              mutual funds.)

         o    Unrealized gain (loss)
              (This amount reflects the increase (decrease) in the unit value
              resulting from the market appreciation (depreciation) of the
              underlying mutual funds.)

         o    Asset charges
              (This amount reflects the decrease in the unit value due to the
              charge discussed in note 3.)

         o    Ending unit value - Dec. 31

         o    Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.

<PAGE>   9


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       SCHEDULE I
                                                                  
                                                 NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                                                 SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE

                                            Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

                                    DRYSRGRO     DRYSTKIX    FIDVIPEI    FIDVIPGR    FIDVIPHI     FIDVIPOV    FIDVIPAM    FIDVIPCON
                                    ---------    --------    --------    --------    --------     --------    --------    ---------
1996***
<S>                             <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>
 Beginning unit value - Jan. 1   $14.401809    13.775382  22.215745    21.256059   20.852993    13.645033   15.982529    11.099135
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends                    .747630      .596225   1.025291     1.527554    1.902180      .335875    1.051899      .104631
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)            2.296912     2.494042   2.132663     1.587071    1.012148     1.459385    1.270941     2.248711
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges                     (.126762)    (.120975)  (.188129)    (.184124)   (.178535)    (.115480)   (.135376)    (.096154)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - Dec. 31     $17.319589    16.744674  25.185570    24.186560   23.588786    15.324813   18.169993    13.356323
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)                    20%         22%         13%          14%        13%           12%        14%           20%
==================================================================================================================================

1995

 Beginning unit value - Jan. 1   $13.083801    12.456650  19.991986    21.077777   19.897254    13.633767   15.029765    10.655665
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends                    .396430      .239425    .229029      .000000     .000000      .000000     .000000      .143118
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)             .967071     1.122261   2.063681      .249916    1.022818      .055055    1.003384      .336322
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges                     (.045493)    (.042954)  (.068951)    (.071634)   (.067079)    (.043789)   (.050620)    (.035970)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - Dec. 31     $14.401809    13.775382  22.215745    21.256059   20.852993    13.645033   15.982529    11.099135
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)                  10%(b)       11%(b)     11%(b)        1%(b)       5%(b)        0%(b)       6%(b)        4%(b)
==================================================================================================================================

1994

 Beginning unit value - Jan. 1         **           **         **           **          **            **        **              **
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - Dec. 31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

  *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as:

    (a)Asset charges do not include the policy charges discussed in note 2; and

    (b)This investment option was not utilized for the entire year indicated.

 **This investment option was not utilized or was not available.  

***No other investment options were being utilized.

<PAGE>   10


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            SCHEDULE I, CONTINUED
                                                 NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                                                 SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE

                                            Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

                     NSATCAPAP    NSATGVTBD    NSATMYMKT    NSATSMCO     NSATTOTRE   NBAMTBAL    NBAMTGRO    NBAMTLMAT   NBAMTPART
                    ----------   ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------   ---------   ---------  ----------   ---------
<S>                 <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>      
1996***
 Beginning unit 
   value - Jan. 1   $14.713230    14.984933    11.714295    11.420759    18.192762    14.157643   15.962482   13.096811   13.591346
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital 
   gains and 
   dividends           .766553      .930103      .596995      .133983     1.217547     2.170851    1.448641    1.102543     .554011
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain 
   (loss)             3.061949     (.412550)     .000000     2.463983     2.737018    (1.201214)    .003774    (.542247)   3.446498
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges        (.131065)    (.119235)    (.096547)    (.103082)    (.158554)    (.116050)   (.132892)   (.105789)   (.122495)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit
   value - Dec. 31  $18.410667    15.383251    12.214743    13.915643    21.988773    15.011230   17.282005   13.551318   17.469360
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage 
   increase (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)       25%           3%           4%          22%          21%           6%           8%         3%         29%
===================================================================================================================================

1995

 Beginning unit 
   value - Jan. 1   $11.465403    12.720514    11.176411    10.000000    14.205723    11.531273   15.674452   12.612894   12.574475
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital 
   gains and 
   dividends           .653781      .903001      .629782      .017475     1.413734      .293664     .000000     .000000     .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain 
   (loss)             2.696528     1.472503      .000000     1.418968     2.703396     2.438125     .341270     .526078    1.059943
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges        (.102482)    (.111085)    (.091898)    (.015684)    (.130091)    (.105419)   (.053240)   (.042161)   (.043072)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit 
   value - Dec. 31  $14.713230    14.984933    11.714295    11.420759    18.192762    14.157643   15.962482   13.096811   13.591346
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase
   (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)       28%          18%           5%        14%(b)          28%          23%       2%(b)       4%(b)       8%(b)
===================================================================================================================================

1994

 Beginning unit 
   value - Jan. 1   $11.662121    13.250482    10.845265         **      14.167308    12.027618        **          **           **
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital 
   gains and 
   dividends           .184927      .833925      .419275                   .717782      .469287
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain 
   (loss)             (.289863)   (1.261429)     .000000                  (.565055)    (.872191)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges        (.091782)    (.102464)    (.088129)                 (.114312)    (.093441)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit 
   value - Dec. 31  $11.465403    12.720514    11.176411                 14.205723    11.531273
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase
   (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)      (2)%         (4)%           3%                        0%         (4)%   
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

  *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as:

    (a)Asset charges do not include the policy charges discussed in note 2; and
    (b)This investment option was not utilized for the entire year indicated.

 **This investment option was not utilized or was not available.  

***No other investment options were being utilized.

<PAGE>   11

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         SCHEDULE I, CONTINUED
                                                                  
                                                 NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                                                 SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE

                                            Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

                                  OPPBDFD    OPPGISEC      OPPMULT    STSPEC2      STDISC2   STINTSTK2      TCIADV      TCIADV+
                                 ---------   ---------    --------   --------     --------   --------      --------    --------
1996***
<S>                             <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
 Beginning unit value -
   Jan. 1                       $15.164813   11.542134   16.100377   18.408627    16.514850  10.236021     13.112917   13.802855
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                 .975830     .000000    1.226905     .866384     3.367146    .051144       .945920     .998314
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)         (.253799)   2.014545    1.256649    2.458870    (3.238459)  1.009533       .260998     .278346
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Asset charges                  (.122023)   (.099459)   (.137568)   (.158462)    (.128676)  (.088468)     (.108836)    .000000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value -
     Dec. 31                    $15.764821   13.457220   18.446363   21.575419    16.514861  11.208230     14.210999   15.079515
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase
     (decrease)
     in unit value*(a)                  4%        17%          15%         17%          0%          9%            8%          9%
================================================================================================================================

1995

   Beginning unit value -
     Jan. 1                     $14.319149   11.943012   15.453572   17.177125    15.320395       **       11.321934   11.822996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                 .451093     .000000     .337996     .082118      .211565                  .411556     .431938
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)          .442834    (.362402)    .360634    1.207608     1.035469                 1.477165    1.547921
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Asset charges                  (.048263)   (.038476)   (.051825)   (.058224)    (.052579)                (.097738)    .000000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value -
     Dec. 31                    $15.164813   11.542134   16.100377   18.408627    16.514850                13.112917   13.802855
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase
     (decrease)
     in unit value*(a)                6%(b)     (3)%(b)       4%(b)       7%(b)        8%(b)                      16%         17%
================================================================================================================================

1994

   Beginning unit value -
     Jan. 1                           **          **          **          **           **         **      $11.295721   11.701906
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Reinvested capital gains
     and dividends                                                                                           .297670     .309969
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrealized gain (loss)                                                                                   (.181209)   (.188879)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Asset charges                                                                                            (.090248)    .000000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Ending unit value -
     Dec. 31                                                                                              $11.321934   11.822996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Percentage increase
     (decrease)
     in unit value*(a)                                                                                            0%          1%
================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

  *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as:

    (a) Asset charges do not include the policy charges discussed in note 2; 
        and 

    (b) This investment option was not utilized for the entire year
        indicated.

 **This Investment option was not utilized or was not available.  

***No other investment options were being utilized.

  +For Depositor, see note 1a.

<PAGE>   12

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          SCHEDULE I, CONTINUED

                                                 NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                                                 SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE

                                            Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

                                 TCIBAL       TCIGRO       TCIINT     VEGOLDNR     VEWRLDBD     VKACRESEC      WPINTEQ     WPSMCOGR 
                                 ------       ------       ------     ---------    ---------   ----------     --------     ---------
<S>                          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>
1996***

 Beginning unit value -
   Jan. 1                    $13.155049    16.149061   10.477472    15.612002    13.253457    10.792212     10.687672    12.461074
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends                .622373     1.812196     .249286      .331277      .361660      .289441       .227366      .000000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)         .976138    (2.505020)   1.252389     2.482492     (.030793)    4.059026       .836487     1.727810
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges                 (.110640)    (.128845)   (.088289)    (.141181)    (.105167)    (.095484)     (.090877)    (.108331)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value -
   Dec. 31                   $14.642920    15.327392   11.890858    18.284590    13.479157    15.045195     11.660648    14.080553
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase
   (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)                11%        (5)%          13%          17%          2%           39%           9%           13%
==================================================================================================================================

1995

 Beginning unit value -
   Jan. 1                    $12.526705    15.745499   10.216142    15.406908    13.012850    10.203521     10.236484    10.233506
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends                .187655      .000000     .000000      .075481      .245483      .092168       .077521      .000000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)         .482910      .457100     .294719      .180118      .038021      .530496       .408042     2.264927
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges                 (.042221)    (.053538)   (.033389)    (.050505)    (.042897)    (.033973)     (.034375)    (.037359)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value -
   Dec. 31                   $13.155049    16.149061   10.477472    15.612002    13.253457    10.792212     10.687672    12.461074
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase
   (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)               5%(b)        3%(b)       3%(b)        1%(b)        2%(b)        6%(b)         4%(b)       22%(b)
==================================================================================================================================

1994

 Beginning unit value -
   Jan. 1                          **           **          **           **           **           **            **           **
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
   and dividends
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value -
   Dec. 31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase
   (decrease)
   in unit value*(a)
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

  *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as:

    (a) Asset charges do not include the policy charges discussed in note 2; and

    (b) This investment option was not utilized for the entire year
        indicated.

 **This investment option was not utilized or was not available.  

***No other investment options were being utilized.

See note 6.


<PAGE>   64

<PAGE>   1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
                          ----------------------------


The Board of Directors
Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company and subsidiaries (collectively the Company) as of December 31,
1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholder's
equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1996.  These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. 

In 1994, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115,
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
January 31, 1997
<PAGE>   2





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets

                           December 31, 1996 and 1995
                                ($000's omitted)

                                        Assets                                                1996               1995
                                        ------                                          -----------------   ----------------
<S>                                                                                     <C>                 <C>       
Investments (notes 5, 8 and 9): 
   Securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities (cost $11,970,878 in 1996; $11,862,556 in 1995)             $12,304,639          12,485,564
      Equity securities (cost $43,890 in 1996; $23,617 in 1995)                                  59,131              29,953
   Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                         5,272,119           4,602,764
   Real estate, net                                                                             265,759             229,442
   Policy loans                                                                                 371,816             336,356
   Other long-term investments                                                                   28,668              61,989
   Short-term investments (note 13)                                                               4,789              32,792
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                             18,306,921          17,778,860
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Cash                                                                                             43,784               9,455
Accrued investment income                                                                       210,182             212,963
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                             1,366,509           1,020,356
Investment in subsidiaries classified as discontinued operations (notes 1 and 2)                485,707             506,677
Other assets (note 6)                                                                           426,441             388,214
Assets held in Separate Accounts (note 8)                                                    26,926,702          18,591,108
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                            $47,766,246          38,507,633
                                                                                        =================   ================

                         Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity
                         ------------------------------------

Future policy benefits and claims (notes 6 and 8)                                           $17,179,060          16,358,614
Policyholders' dividend accumulations                                                           361,401             348,027
Other policyholder funds                                                                         60,073              65,297
Accrued federal income tax (note 7):
   Current                                                                                       30,170              35,301
   Deferred                                                                                     162,212             246,627
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                                192,382             281,928
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Dividend payable to shareholder (notes 1 and 2)                                                 485,707                   -
Other liabilities                                                                               423,047             234,147
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts (note 8)                                            26,926,702          18,591,108
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                             45,628,372          35,879,121
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------

Commitments and contingencies (notes 6, 9 and 15)

Shareholder's equity (notes 3, 4, 5, 12 and 13):
   Capital shares, $1 par value.  Authorized 5,000,000 shares, issued and
      outstanding 3,814,779 shares                                                                3,815               3,815
   Additional paid-in capital                                                                   527,874             657,118
   Retained earnings                                                                          1,432,593           1,583,275
   Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net                                       173,592             384,304
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                              2,137,874           2,628,512
                                                                                        -----------------   ----------------
                                                                                            $47,766,246          38,507,633
                                                                                        =================   ================
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   3


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        Consolidated Statements of Income

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   1996            1995            1994
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                           <C>              <C>             <C>    
Revenues (note 16):
   Investment product and universal life insurance product policy charges       $   400,902        286,534         217,245
   Traditional life insurance premiums                                              198,642        199,106         176,658
   Net investment income (note 5)                                                 1,357,759      1,294,033       1,210,811
   Realized losses on investments  (note 5)                                            (326)        (1,724)        (16,527)
   Other income                                                                      35,861         20,702          11,312
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                  1,992,838      1,798,651       1,599,499
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
Benefits and expenses:
   Benefits and claims                                                            1,160,580      1,115,493         992,667
   Provision for policyholders' dividends on participating policies (note 12)        40,973         39,937          38,754
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                                133,394         82,695          85,568
   Other operating expenses (note 13)                                               342,394        272,954         240,652
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                  1,677,341      1,511,079       1,357,641
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
      Income from continuing operations before federal income tax expense           315,497        287,572         241,858
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------

Federal income tax expense (benefit) (note 7):
   Current                                                                          116,512         88,700          73,559
   Deferred                                                                          (5,623)        11,108           5,030
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                    110,889         99,808          78,589
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------
      Income from continuing operations                                             204,608        187,764         163,269

Income from discontinued operations (less federal income tax expense of
   $4,453, $7,446 and $10,915 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively) (note 2)         11,324         24,714          20,459
                                                                              ---------------  --------------  -------------

      Net income                                                                $   215,932        212,478         183,728
                                                                              ===============  ==============  =============
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   4


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 Consolidated Statements of Shareholder's Equity

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             Unrealized
                                                                                           gains (losses)
                                                             Additional                    on securities        Total
                                                 Capital      paid-in        Retained      available-for-   shareholder's
                                                  shares      capital        earnings        sale, net          equity
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>           <C>             <C>               <C>      
1994:
   Balance, beginning of year                       $3,815      406,089       1,194,519             6,745       1,611,168
   Capital contribution                                  -      200,000               -                 -         200,000
   Net income                                            -            -         183,728                 -         183,728
   Adjustment for change in accounting for
      certain investments in debt and equity
      securities, net (note 4)                           -            -               -           212,553         212,553
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -          (338,971)       (338,971)
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      606,089       1,378,247          (119,673)      1,868,478
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

1995:
   Balance, beginning of year                        3,815      606,089       1,378,247          (119,673)      1,868,478
   Capital contribution (note 13)                        -       51,029               -            (4,111)         46,918
   Dividends to shareholder                              -            -          (7,450)                -          (7,450)
   Net income                                            -            -         212,478                 -         212,478
   Unrealized gains on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -           508,088         508,088
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      657,118       1,583,275           384,304       2,628,512
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

1996:
   Balance, beginning of year                        3,815      657,118       1,583,275           384,304       2,628,512
   Capital contribution (note 13)                        -           25               5                 -              30
   Dividends to shareholder                              -     (129,269)       (366,619)          (39,819)       (535,707)
   Net income                                            -            -         215,932                 -         215,932
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      -            -               -          (170,893)       (170,893)
                                                ----------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------
   Balance, end of year                             $3,815      527,874       1,432,593           173,592       2,137,874
                                                =========== ============= =============== ================= ===============

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   5


               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                       1996            1995            1994
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
<S>                                                                              <C>              <C>             <C>    
  Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                                                    $    215,932        212,478         183,728
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
        activities:
           Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs                         (422,572)      (321,327)       (242,431)
           Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            133,394         82,695          85,568
           Amortization and depreciation                                                  6,962         10,234           3,603
           Realized (gains) losses on invested assets, net                                 (284)         3,250          16,094
           Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)                                  7,603        (30,673)          9,946
           Decrease (increase) in accrued investment income                               2,781        (16,999)        (12,808)
           (Increase) decrease in other assets                                          (38,876)        39,880        (102,676)
           Increase in policy liabilities                                               305,755        135,937         118,361
           Increase in policyholders' dividend accumulations                             13,374         12,639          15,298
           (Decrease) increase in accrued federal income tax payable                     (5,131)        30,836          (5,714)
           Increase in other liabilities                                                188,900         26,851             506
           Other, net                                                                   (61,679)         1,832         (29,595)
                                                                                 ---------------  --------------- ---------------
              Net cash provided by operating activities                                 346,159        187,633          39,880
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------

  Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from maturity of securities available-for-sale                          1,162,766        634,553         544,843
     Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale                                299,558        107,345         228,308
     Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                     -        564,450         491,862
     Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans on real estate                          309,050        207,832         190,574
     Proceeds from sale of real estate                                                   18,519         48,331          46,713
     Proceeds from repayments of policy loans and sale of other invested assets          22,795         53,587         120,506
     Cost of securities available-for-sale acquired                                  (1,573,640)    (1,942,413)     (1,816,370)
     Cost of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity acquired                              -       (593,636)       (410,379)
     Cost of mortgage loans on real estate acquired                                    (972,776)      (796,026)       (471,570)
     Cost of real estate acquired                                                        (7,862)       (10,928)         (6,385)
     Policy loans issued and other invested assets acquired                             (57,740)       (75,910)        (65,302)
     Short-term investments, net                                                         28,003         77,837         (89,376)
     Purchase of affiliate (note 13)                                                          -              -        (155,000)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- ---------------
              Net cash used in investing activities                                    (771,327)    (1,724,978)     (1,391,576)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- ---------------

  Cash flows from financing activities:
     Proceeds from capital contributions                                                     30              -         200,000
     Dividends paid to shareholder                                                      (50,000)        (7,450)              -
     Increase in investment product and universal life insurance
        product account balances                                                      2,293,933      2,809,385       3,547,976
     Decrease in investment product and universal life insurance
        product account balances                                                     (1,784,466)    (1,258,758)     (2,412,595)
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- --------------
              Net cash provided by financing activities                                 459,497      1,543,177       1,335,381
                                                                                ---------------- --------------- --------------

  Net increase (decrease) in cash                                                        34,329          5,832         (16,315)

                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
  Cash, beginning of year                                                                 9,455          3,623          19,938
                                                                                 ---------------- --------------- ---------------
  Cash, end of year                                                               $      43,784          9,455           3,623
                                                                                 ================ =============== ===============
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>   6




               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

(1)      Organization and Description of Business
         ----------------------------------------

         Nationwide Life Insurance Company (NLIC) is a wholly owned subsidiary
         of Nationwide Corporation (Nationwide Corp.). Wholly owned subsidiaries
         of NLIC include Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (NLAIC),
         Employers Life Insurance Company of Wausau and subsidiaries (ELICW),
         National Casualty Company (NCC), West Coast Life Insurance Company
         (WCLIC), Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. (formerly Nationwide
         Financial Services, Inc.), Nationwide Investment Services Corporation
         (formerly PEBSCO Securities Corporation) (NISC) and NWE, Inc. NLIC and
         its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "the Company."

         Nationwide Corp. formed Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NFS) in
         November 1996 as a holding company for NLIC and the other companies of
         the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise that offer or distribute long-term
         savings and retirement products. On January 27, 1997, Nationwide Corp.
         contributed to NFS the common stock of NLIC and three marketing and
         distribution companies. NFS is planning an initial public offering of
         its Class A common stock during the first quarter of 1997.

         In anticipation of the restructuring described above, on September 24,
         1996, NLIC's Board of Directors declared a dividend payable January 1,
         1997 to Nationwide Corp. consisting of the outstanding shares of common
         stock of certain subsidiaries (ELICW, NCC and WCLIC) that do not offer
         or distribute long-term savings and retirement products. In addition,
         during 1996, NLIC entered into two reinsurance agreements whereby all
         of NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business was
         ceded to ELICW and another affiliate effective January 1, 1996. These
         subsidiaries and all accident and health and group life insurance
         business have been accounted for as discontinued operations for all
         periods presented. See notes 2 and 13.

         In addition, as part of the restructuring described above, NLIC intends
         to make an $850,000 distribution to NFS which will then make an
         equivalent distribution to Nationwide Corp.

         The Company is a leading provider of long-term savings and retirement
         products to retail and institutional customers and is subject to
         competition from other financial services providers throughout the
         United States. The Company is subject to regulation by the Insurance
         Departments of states in which it is licensed, and undergoes periodic
         examinations by those departments.

         The following is a description of the most significant risks facing
         life insurers and how the Company mitigates those risks:

              LEGAL/REGULATORY RISK is the risk that changes in the legal or
              regulatory environment in which an insurer operates will create
              additional expenses not anticipated by the insurer in pricing its
              products. That is, regulatory initiatives, new legal theories or
              insurance company insolvencies through guaranty fund assessments
              may create costs for the insurer beyond those currently recorded
              in the consolidated financial statements. The Company mitigates
              this risk by offering a wide range of products and by operating
              throughout the United States, thus reducing its exposure to any
              single product or jurisdiction, and also by employing underwriting
              practices which identify and minimize the adverse impact of this
              risk.

              CREDIT RISK is the risk that issuers of securities owned by the
              Company or mortgagors on mortgage loans on real estate owned by
              the Company will default or that other parties, including
              reinsurers, which owe the Company money, will not pay. The Company
              minimizes this risk by adhering to a conservative investment
              strategy, by maintaining reinsurance and credit and collection
              policies and by providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.
<PAGE>   7



               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


              INTEREST RATE RISK is the risk that interest rates will change and
              cause a decrease in the value of an insurer's investments. This
              change in rates may cause certain interest-sensitive products to
              become uncompetitive or may cause disintermediation. The Company
              mitigates this risk by charging fees for non-conformance with
              certain policy provisions, by offering products that transfer this
              risk to the purchaser, and/or by attempting to match the maturity
              schedule of its assets with the expected payouts of its
              liabilities. To the extent that liabilities come due more quickly
              than assets mature, an insurer would have to borrow funds or sell
              assets prior to maturity and potentially recognize a gain or loss.

(2)      Discontinued Operations
         -----------------------

         As discussed in note 1, NFS is a holding company for NLIC and certain
         other companies that offer or distribute long-term savings and
         retirement products. Prior to the contribution by Nationwide Corp. to
         NFS of the outstanding common stock of NLIC and other companies, NLIC
         effected certain transactions with respect to certain subsidiaries and
         lines of business that were unrelated to long-term savings and
         retirement products.

         On September 24, 1996, NLIC's Board of Directors declared a dividend to
         Nationwide Corp. consisting of the outstanding shares of common stock
         of three subsidiaries: ELICW, NCC and WCLIC. ELICW writes group
         accident and health and group life insurance business and maintains it
         offices in Wausau, Wisconsin. NCC is a property and casualty company
         that serves as a fronting company for a property and casualty
         subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC), an affiliate.
         NCC maintains its offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. WCLIC writes high
         dollar term life insurance policies and is located in San Francisco,
         California. ELICW, NCC and WCLIC have been accounted for as
         discontinued operations for all periods presented. NLIC did not
         recognize any gain or loss on the disposal of these subsidiaries.

         A summary of the combined results of operations, including the results
         of the accident and health and group life insurance business ELICW
         assumed from NLIC in 1996, and assets and liabilities of ELICW, NCC and
         WCLIC as of and for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 is
         as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    1996           1995          1994
                                                                                ------------   -----------   -----------

               <S>                                                               <C>             <C>           <C>   
               Revenues                                                          $   668,870       422,149        84,226
               Net income                                                             11,324        26,456        11,753
               Assets, consisting primarily of investments                         3,029,293     2,967,326     2,537,692
               Liabilities, consisting primarily of policy benefits and claims     2,543,586     2,460,649     2,179,263
</TABLE>

         During 1996, NLIC entered into two reinsurance agreements whereby all
         of NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business was
         ceded to ELICW and NMIC, effective January 1, 1996. See note 13 for a
         complete discussion of the reinsurance agreements. NLIC has
         discontinued its accident and health and group life insurance business
         and in connection therewith has entered into reinsurance agreements to
         cede all existing and any future writings to other affiliated companies
         and will cease writing any new business prior to December 31, 1997.
         NLIC's accident and health and group life insurance business is
         accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
         NLIC did not recognize any gain or loss on the disposal of the accident
         and health and group life insurance business. The assets, liabilities,
         results of operations and activities of discontinued operations are
         distinguished physically, operationally and for financial reporting
         purposes from the remaining assets, liabilities, results of operations
         and activities of NLIC.
<PAGE>   8
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         A summary of the results of operations, net of amounts ceded to ELICW
         and NMIC in 1996, and assets and liabilities of NLIC's accident and
         health and group life insurance business as of and for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    1996           1995          1994
                                                                                ------------   -----------   -----------

<S>                                                                                 <C>            <C>           <C>    
               Revenues                                                             $      -       354,788       362,476
               Net income (loss)                                                           -        (1,742)        8,706
               Assets, consisting primarily of investments                           259,185       239,426       234,082
               Liabilities, consisting primarily of policy benefits and claims       259,185       239,426       234,082
</TABLE>

(3)      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
         ------------------------------------------

         The significant accounting policies followed by the Company that
         materially affect financial reporting are summarized below. The
         accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) which
         differ from statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by
         regulatory authorities. Annual Statements for NLIC and its insurance
         subsidiaries, filed with the department of insurance of each insurance
         company's state of domicile, are prepared on the basis of accounting
         practices prescribed or permitted by each department. Prescribed
         statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the
         National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as well as
         state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted
         statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not
         so prescribed. The Company has no material permitted statutory
         accounting practices.

         In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is
         required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
         amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent
         assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial
         statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the
         reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those
         estimates.

         The most significant estimates include those used in determining
         deferred policy acquisition costs, valuation allowances for mortgage
         loans on real estate and real estate investments and the liability for
         future policy benefits and claims. Although some variability is
         inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts provided
         are adequate.

         (a)  Consolidation Policy
              --------------------

              The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NLIC
              and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Subsidiaries that are
              classified and reported as discontinued operations are not
              consolidated but rather are reported as "Investment in
              Subsidiaries Classified as Discontinued Operations" in the
              accompanying consolidated balance sheets and "Income for
              Discontinued Operations" in the accompanying consolidated
              statements of income. All significant intercompany balances and
              transactions have been eliminated.

         (b)  Valuation of Investments and Related Gains and Losses
              -----------------------------------------------------

              The Company is required to classify its fixed maturity securities
              and equity securities as either held-to-maturity,
              available-for-sale or trading. Fixed maturity securities are
              classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive
              intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity and are
              stated at amortized cost. Fixed maturity securities not classified
              as held-to-maturity and all equity securities are classified as
              available-for-sale and are stated at fair value, with the
              unrealized gains and losses, net of adjustments to deferred policy
              acquisition costs and deferred federal income tax, reported as a
              separate component of shareholder's equity. The adjustment to
              deferred policy acquisition costs represents the change in
              amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs that would have
              been required as a charge or credit to operations had such
              unrealized amounts been realized. The Company has no fixed
              maturity securities classified as held-to-maturity or trading as
              of December 31, 1996 or 1995.
<PAGE>   9
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



              Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at the unpaid principal
              balance less valuation allowances. The Company provides valuation
              allowances for impairments of mortgage loans on real estate based
              on a review by portfolio managers. The measurement of impaired
              loans is based on the present value of expected future cash flows
              discounted at the loan's effective interest rate or, as a
              practical expedient, at the fair value of the collateral, if the
              loan is collateral dependent. Loans in foreclosure and loans
              considered to be impaired are placed on non-accrual status.
              Interest received on non-accrual status mortgage loans on real
              estate are included in interest income in the period received.

              Real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and
              valuation allowances. Other long-term investments are carried on
              the equity basis, adjusted for valuation allowances. Impairment
              losses are recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when
              indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash
              flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the
              assets' carrying amount.

              Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are
              determined on the basis of specific security identification.
              Estimates for valuation allowances and other than temporary
              declines are included in realized gains and losses on investments.

         (c)  Revenues and Benefits
              ---------------------

              INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS:
              Investment products consist primarily of individual and group
              variable and fixed annuities, annuities without life contingencies
              and guaranteed investment contracts. Universal life insurance
              products include universal life insurance, variable universal life
              insurance and other interest-sensitive life insurance policies.
              Revenues for investment products and universal life insurance
              products consist of net investment income, asset fees, cost of
              insurance, policy administration and surrender charges that have
              been earned and assessed against policy account balances during
              the period. Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense
              include interest credited to policy account balances and benefits
              and claims incurred in the period in excess of related policy
              account balances.

              TRADITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS: Traditional life insurance
              products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums
              and benefits and consist primarily of whole life insurance,
              limited-payment life insurance, term life insurance and certain
              annuities with life contingencies. Premiums for traditional life
              insurance products are recognized as revenue when due. Benefits
              and expenses are associated with earned premiums so as to result
              in recognition of profits over the life of the contract. This
              association is accomplished by the provision for future policy
              benefits and the deferral and amortization of policy acquisition
              costs.

              ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCTS: Accident and health
              insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the terms of the
              policies. Policy claims are charged to expense in the period that
              the claims are incurred. All accident and health insurance
              business is accounted for as discontinued operations. See note 2.

         (d)  Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
              ---------------------------------

              The costs of acquiring new business, principally commissions,
              certain expenses of the policy issue and underwriting department
              and certain variable agency expenses have been deferred. For
              investment products and universal life insurance products,
              deferred policy acquisition costs are being amortized with
              interest over the lives of the policies in relation to the present
              value of estimated future gross profits from projected interest
              margins, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy administration and
              surrender charges. For years in which gross profits are negative,
              deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized based on the
              present value of gross revenues. For traditional life products,
              these deferred policy acquisition costs are predominantly being
              amortized with interest over the premium paying period of the
              related policies in proportion to the ratio of actual annual
              premium revenue to the anticipated total premium revenue. Such
              anticipated premium revenue was estimated using the same
              assumptions as were used for computing liabilities for future
              policy benefits. Deferred policy acquisition costs are adjusted to
              reflect the impact of unrealized gains and losses on fixed
              maturity securities available-for-sale as described in note 3(b).
<PAGE>   10

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         (e)  Separate Accounts
              -----------------

              Separate Account assets and liabilities represent contractholders'
              funds which have been segregated into accounts with specific
              investment objectives. The investment income and gains or losses
              of these accounts accrue directly to the contractholders. The
              activity of the Separate Accounts is not reflected in the
              consolidated statements of income and cash flows except for the
              fees the Company receives.

         (f)  Future Policy Benefits
              ----------------------

              Future policy benefits for investment products in the accumulation
              phase, universal life insurance and variable universal life
              insurance policies have been calculated based on participants'
              contributions plus interest credited less applicable contract
              charges.

              Future policy benefits for traditional life insurance policies
              have been calculated using a net level premium method based on
              estimates of mortality, morbidity, investment yields and
              withdrawals which were used or which were being experienced at the
              time the policies were issued, rather than the assumptions
              prescribed by state regulatory authorities. See note 6.

              Future policy benefits and claims for collectively renewable
              long-term disability policies and group long-term disability
              policies are the present value of amounts not yet due on reported
              claims and an estimate of amounts to be paid on incurred but
              unreported claims. The impact of reserve discounting is not
              material. Future policy benefits and claims on other group health
              insurance policies are not discounted. All health insurance
              business is accounted for as discontinued operations. See note 2.

         (g)  Participating Business
              ----------------------

              Participating business represents approximately 52% in 1996 (54%
              in 1995 and 55% in 1994) of the Company's life insurance in force,
              78% in 1996 (79% in 1995 and 79% in 1994) of the number of life
              insurance policies in force, and 40% in 1996 (47% in 1995 and 51%
              in 1994) of life insurance premiums. The provision for
              policyholder dividends is based on current dividend scales. Future
              dividends are provided for ratably in future policy benefits based
              on dividend scales in effect at the time the policies were issued.

         (h)  Federal Income Tax
              ------------------

              The Company, with the exception of ELICW, files a consolidated
              federal income tax return with NMIC, the majority shareholder of
              Nationwide Corp. The members of the consolidated tax return group
              have a tax sharing arrangement which provides, in effect, for each
              member to bear essentially the same federal income tax liability
              as if separate tax returns were filed. Through 1994, ELICW filed a
              consolidated federal income tax return with Employers Insurance of
              Wausau A Mutual Company, an affiliate. Beginning in 1995, ELICW
              files a separate federal income tax return.

              The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting
              for income tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
              liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
              attributable to differences between the financial statement
              carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
              respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit
              carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
              using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
              years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
              recovered or settled. Under this method, the effect on deferred
              tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized
              in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
              Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce the
              deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
<PAGE>   11
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         (i)  Reinsurance Ceded
              -----------------
  
              Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoveries on benefits
              and claims incurred are deducted from the respective income and
              expense accounts. Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance
              ceded are reported on a gross basis. All of the Company's accident
              and health and group life insurance business is ceded to
              affiliates and is accounted for as discontinued operations. See
              notes 2 and 13.

         (j)  Reclassification
              ----------------

              Certain items in the 1995 and 1994 consolidated financial
              statements have been reclassified to conform to the 1996
              presentation.


(4)      Change in Accounting Principle
         ------------------------------

         Effective January 1, 1994, the Company changed its method of accounting
         for certain investments in debt and equity securities in connection
         with the issuance of STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (SFAS)
         NO. 115 - ACCOUNTING FOR CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY
         SECURITIES. As of January 1, 1994, the Company classified fixed
         maturity securities with amortized cost and fair value of $6,299,665
         and $6,721,714, respectively, as available-for-sale and recorded the
         securities at fair value. Previously, these securities were recorded at
         amortized cost. The effect as of January 1, 1994 has been recorded as a
         direct credit to shareholder's equity as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             <S>                                                                     <C>    
             Excess of fair value over amortized cost of fixed maturity
                securities available-for-sale                                         $ 422,049
             Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                            (95,044)
             Deferred federal income tax                                               (114,452)
                                                                                    --------------
                                                                                      $ 212,553
                                                                                    ==============
</TABLE>


(5)      Investments
         -----------

         The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities
         available-for-sale were as follows as of December 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Gross         Gross
                                                                    Amortized     unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
                                                                      cost           gains        losses       fair value
                                                                  ------------    ----------    -----------    -----------  
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>          <C>            <C>    
             1996:
               Fixed maturity securities:
                 U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
                   U.S. government corporations and agencies       $   275,696         4,795        (1,340)        279,151
                 Obligations of states and political subdivisions        6,242           450            (2)          6,690
                 Debt securities issued by foreign governments         100,656         2,141          (857)        101,940
                 Corporate securities                                7,999,310       285,946       (33,686)      8,251,570
                 Mortgage-backed securities                          3,588,974        91,438       (15,124)      3,665,288
                                                                   ------------    ----------   ------------   ------------ 
                     Total fixed maturity securities                11,970,878       384,770       (51,009)     12,304,639
               Equity securities                                        43,890        15,571          (330)         59,131
                                                                   ------------    ----------   ------------   ------------ 
                                                                   $12,014,768       400,341       (51,339)     12,363,770
                                                                   ============    ==========   ============   ============ 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   12
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities
         available-for-sale were as follows as of December 31, 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Gross         Gross
                                                                    Amortized     unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
                                                                      cost           gains        losses       fair value
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                                <C>                <C>              <C>         <C>    
             1995:
               Fixed maturity securities:
                 U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of 
                   U.S. government corporations and agencies       $   310,186        12,764           (1)         322,949
                 Obligations of states and political subdivisions        8,655         1,205           (1)           9,859
                 Debt securities issued by foreign governments         101,414         4,387          (66)         105,735
                 Corporate securities                                7,888,440       473,681      (25,742)       8,336,379
                 Mortgage-backed securities                          3,553,861       165,169       (8,388)       3,710,642
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
                     Total fixed maturity securities                11,862,556       657,206      (34,198)      12,485,564
               Equity securities                                        23,617         6,382          (46)          29,953
                                                                   ------------    ----------   -----------  ---------------
                                                                   $11,886,173       663,588      (34,244)      12,515,517
                                                                   ============    ==========   ===========  ===============
</TABLE>


         The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity
         securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 1996, by contractual
         maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from
         contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or
         prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              
                                                                                   Amortized        Estimated
                                                                                      cost          fair value
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                
<S>                                                                             <C>                    <C>                 
             Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
                Due in one year or less                                         $     440,235          444,214
                Due after one year through five years                               3,937,010        4,053,152
                Due after five years through ten years                              2,809,813        2,871,806
                Due after ten years                                                 1,194,846        1,270,179
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                    8,381,904        8,639,351

             Mortgage-backed securities                                             3,588,974        3,665,288
                                                                                ---------------   --------------
                                                                                  $11,970,878       12,304,639
                                                                                ===============   ==============
</TABLE>


         The components of unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale,
         net, were as follows as of December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   1996            1995
                                                                              ---------------  --------------

             <S>                                                                  <C>              <C>    
             Gross unrealized gains                                               $349,002         629,344
             Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                       (81,939)       (138,914)
             Deferred federal income tax                                           (93,471)       (171,649)
                                                                              ---------------  --------------
                                                                                   173,592         318,781

             Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net, of
                subsidiaries classified as discontinued operations (note 2)              -          65,523
                                                                              ---------------  --------------
                                                                                  $173,592         384,304
                                                                              ===============  ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   13
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         An analysis of the change in gross unrealized gains (losses) on
         securities available-for-sale and fixed maturity securities
         held-to-maturity follows for the years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          1996             1995            1994
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
             <S>                                                     <C>               <C>            <C>    
             Securities available-for-sale:
                Fixed maturity securities                               $(289,247)         876,332       (675,373)
                Equity securities                                           8,905              (26)        (1,927)
             Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                         -           75,626       (398,183)
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
                                                                        $(280,342)         951,932     (1,075,483)
                                                                     ===============   =============  ==============
</TABLE>

         Proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale during 1996,
         1995 and 1994 were $299,558, $107,345 and $228,308, respectively.
         During 1996, gross gains of $6,606 ($4,838 and $3,045 in 1995 and 1994,
         respectively) and gross losses of $6,925 ($2,147 and $21,280 in 1995
         and 1994, respectively) were realized on those sales.

         During 1995, the Company transferred fixed maturity securities
         classified as held-to-maturity with amortized cost of $25,429 to
         available-for-sale securities due to evidence of a significant
         deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness. The transfer of those
         fixed maturity securities resulted in a gross unrealized loss of
         $3,535.

         As permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Special
         Report, A GUIDE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF STATEMENT 115 ON ACCOUNTING FOR
         CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES, issued in November
         1995 the Company transferred all of its fixed maturity securities
         previously classified as held-to-maturity to available-for-sale. As of
         December 14, 1995, the date of transfer, the fixed maturity securities
         had amortized cost of $3,320,093, resulting in a gross unrealized gain
         of $155,940.

         Investments that were non-income producing for the twelve month period
         preceding December 31, 1996 amounted to $26,805 ($27,712 in 1995) and
         consisted of $248 ($6,982 in 1995) in fixed maturity securities,
         $20,633 ($14,740 in 1995) in real estate and $5,924 ($5,990 in 1995) in
         other long-term investments.

         Real estate is presented at cost less accumulated depreciation of
         $30,338 as of December 31, 1996 ($30,482 as of December 31, 1995) and
         valuation allowances of $15,219 as of December 31, 1996 ($25,819 as of
         December 31, 1995).

         The recorded investment of mortgage loans on real estate considered to
         be impaired (under SFAS NO. 114 - ACCOUNTING BY CREDITORS FOR
         IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN as amended by SFAS NO. 118 - ACCOUNTING BY
         CREDITORS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN-INCOME RECOGNITION AND DISCLOSURE)
         as of December 31, 1996 was $51,765 ($44,409 as of December 31, 1995),
         which includes $41,663 ($23,975 as of December 31, 1995) of impaired
         mortgage loans on real estate for which the related valuation allowance
         was $8,485 ($5,276 as of December 31, 1995) and $10,102 ($20,434 as of
         December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real estate for which
         there was no valuation allowance. During 1996, the average recorded
         investment in impaired mortgage loans on real estate was approximately
         $39,674 ($22,181 in 1995) and interest income recognized on those loans
         was $2,103 ($387 in 1995), which is equal to interest income recognized
         using a cash-basis method of income recognition.

         Activity in the valuation allowance account for mortgage loans on real
         estate is summarized for the years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   1996           1995
                                                                               -------------  --------------

<S>                                                                                <C>             <C>   
             Allowance, beginning of year                                          $49,128         46,381
                  Additions charged to operations                                    4,497          7,433
                  Direct write-downs charged against the allowance                  (2,587)        (4,686)
                                                                               -------------  -------------  
             Allowance, end of year                                                $51,038         49,128
                                                                               =============  ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   14

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         An analysis of investment income by investment type follows for the
         years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          1996             1995           1994
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  ------------
        <S>                                                           <C>              <C>            <C>          
             Gross investment income:
                 Securities available-for-sale:
                   Fixed maturity securities                          $   917,135          685,787        647,927
                   Equity securities                                        1,291            1,330            509
                 Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity                     -          201,808        185,938
                 Mortgage loans on real estate                            432,815          395,478        372,734
                 Real estate                                               44,332           38,344         40,170
                 Short-term investments                                     4,155           10,576          6,141
                 Other                                                      3,998            7,239          2,121
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  --------------
                       Total investment income                          1,403,726        1,340,562      1,255,540
             Less investment expenses                                      45,967           46,529         44,729
                                                                     ---------------   -------------  ---------------  
                       Net investment income                           $1,357,759        1,294,033      1,210,811
                                                                     ===============   =============  ==============
</TABLE>

         An analysis of realized gains (losses) on investments, net of valuation
         allowances, by investment type follows for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996          1995          1994
                                                                     ------------  ------------  ------------
        <S>                                                          <C>           <C>           <C>    
             Securities available-for-sale:
                Fixed maturity securities                              $(3,462)        4,213        (7,296)
                Equity securities                                        3,143         3,386         1,422
             Mortgage loans on real estate                              (4,115)       (7,091)      (20,446)
             Real estate and other                                       4,108        (2,232)        9,793
                                                                     ------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                                                      $   (326)       (1,724)      (16,527)
                                                                     ============  ============  ============
</TABLE>

         Fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of $6,161 and $5,592
         as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were on deposit with
         various regulatory agencies as required by law.

(6)      Future Policy Benefits and Claims
         ---------------------------------

         The liability for future policy benefits for investment contracts
         represents approximately 87% and 87% of the total liability for future
         policy benefits as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
         average interest rate credited on investment product policies was
         approximately 6.3%, 6.6% and 6.5% for the years ended December 31,
         1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

         The liability for future policy benefits for traditional life insurance
         policies has been established based upon the following assumptions:

              Interest rates:  Interest rates vary as follows:
              --------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   Year of issue                Interest rates
                   -----------------   ----------------------------------------

                   <S>                <C>                
                   1996                6.6%, not graded
                   1984-1995           6.0% to 10.5%, not graded
                   1966-1983           6.0% to 8.1%, graded over 20 years to 4.0% to 6.6%
                   1965 and prior      generally lower than post 1965 issues

</TABLE>
<PAGE>   15
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


              WITHDRAWALS: Rates, which vary by issue age, type of coverage
              and policy duration, are based on Company experience.

              MORTALITY: Mortality and morbidity rates are based on
              published tables, modified for the Company's actual
              experience.

         The Company has entered into a reinsurance contract to cede a portion
         of its general account individual annuity business to The Franklin Life
         Insurance Company (Franklin). Total recoveries due from Franklin were
         $240,451 and $245,255 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
         The contract is immaterial to the Company's results of operations. The
         ceding of risk does not discharge the original insurer from its primary
         obligation to the policyholder. Under the terms of the contract,
         Franklin has established a trust as collateral for the recoveries. The
         trust assets are invested in investment grade securities, the market
         value of which must at all times be greater than or equal to 102% of
         the reinsured reserves.

         The Company has reinsurance agreements with certain affiliates as
         described in note 13. All other reinsurance agreements are not material
         to either premiums or reinsurance recoverables.

(7)      Federal Income Tax
         -------------------

         The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
         components of the net deferred tax liability as of December 31, 1996
         and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              1996               1995
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
            <S>                                                         <C>                 <C>    
             Deferred tax assets:
                Future policy benefits                                        $175,571            149,192
                Liabilities in Separate Accounts                               188,426            129,120
                Mortgage loans on real estate and real estate                   23,366             25,165
                Other policyholder funds                                         7,407              7,424
                Other assets and other liabilities                              53,757             41,847
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Total gross deferred tax assets                              448,527            352,748
                  Less valuation allowances                                     (7,000)            (7,000)
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Net deferred tax assets                                      441,527            345,748
                                                                        =================   ===============

             Deferred tax liabilities:
                Deferred policy acquisition costs                              399,345            299,579
                Fixed maturity securities                                      133,210            227,345
                Deferred tax on realized investment gains                       37,597             40,634
                Equity securities and other long-term investments                8,210              3,780
                Other                                                           25,377             21,037
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                  Total gross deferred tax liabilities                         603,739            592,375
                                                                        -----------------   ---------------
                                                                              $162,212            246,627
                                                                        =================   ===============
</TABLE>

         In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management
         considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the
         total gross deferred tax assets will not be realized. Nearly all future
         deductible amounts can be offset by future taxable amounts or recovery
         of federal income tax paid within the statutory carryback period. There
         has been no change in the valuation allowance for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.
<PAGE>   16

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         Total federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994 differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S.
         federal income tax rate to income before tax as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                1996                    1995                    1994
                                                   ----------------------   ----------------------   ----------------------
                                                      Amount        %          Amount        %          Amount        %
                                                   ----------------------   ----------------------   ----------------------

             <S>                                      <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C> 
             Computed (expected) tax expense          $110,424     35.0        $100,650     35.0         $84,650     35.0
             Tax exempt interest and dividends
                received deduction                        (212)    (0.1)            (18)    (0.0)           (130)    (0.1)
             Other, net                                    677      0.3            (824)    (0.3)         (5,931)    (2.5)
                                                   ------------  --------   ------------- --------   ------------- --------
               Total (effective rate of each year)    $110,889     35.2       $  99,808     34.7         $78,589     32.5
                                                   ============  ========   ============= ========   ============= ========
</TABLE>

         Total federal  income tax paid was $115,839,  $51,840 and $83,239  
         during the years ended  December 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994, 
         respectively.


 (8)     Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
         -----------------------------------------------------

         SFAS NO. 107 - DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
         (SFAS 107) requires disclosure of fair value information about existing
         on and off-balance sheet financial instruments. SFAS 107 defines the
         fair value of a financial instrument as the amount at which the
         financial instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction
         between willing parties. In cases where quoted market prices are not
         available, fair value is based on estimates using present value or
         other valuation techniques.

         These techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used,
         including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.
         Although fair value estimates are calculated using assumptions that
         management believes are appropriate, changes in assumptions could cause
         these estimates to vary materially. In that regard, the derived fair
         value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent
         markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in the immediate
         settlement of the instruments. SFAS 107 excludes certain assets and
         liabilities from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the
         aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying
         value of the Company.

         Although insurance contracts, other than policies such as annuities
         that are classified as investment contracts, are specifically exempted
         from SFAS 107 disclosures, estimated fair value of policy reserves on
         life insurance contracts is provided to make the fair value disclosures
         more meaningful.

         The tax ramifications of the related unrealized gains and losses can
         have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been
         considered in the estimates.

         The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
         estimating its fair value disclosures:

              CASH, SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND POLICY LOANS: The carrying amount
              reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these instruments
              approximates their fair value.

              FIXED MATURITY AND EQUITY SECURITIES: Fair value for fixed
              maturity securities is based on quoted market prices, where
              available. For fixed maturity securities not actively traded, fair
              value is estimated using values obtained from independent pricing
              services or, in the case of private placements, is estimated by
              discounting expected future cash flows using a current market rate
              applicable to the yield, credit quality and maturity of the
              investments. The fair value for equity securities is based on
              quoted market prices.

              SEPARATE ACCOUNT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: The fair value of assets
              held in Separate Accounts is based on quoted market prices. The
              fair value of liabilities related to Separate Accounts is the
              amount payable on demand, which includes certain surrender
              charges.
<PAGE>   17
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


              MORTGAGE LOANS ON REAL ESTATE: The fair value for mortgage loans
              on real estate is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses,
              using interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to
              borrowers with similar credit ratings. Loans with similar
              characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations.
              Fair value for mortgages in default is the estimated fair value of
              the underlying collateral.

              INVESTMENT CONTRACTS: Fair value for the Company's liabilities
              under investment type contracts is disclosed using two methods.
              For investment contracts without defined maturities, fair value is
              the amount payable on demand. For investment contracts with known
              or determined maturities, fair value is estimated using discounted
              cash flow analyses. Interest rates used are similar to currently
              offered contracts with maturities consistent with those remaining
              for the contracts being valued.

              POLICY RESERVES ON LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACTS: Included are
              disclosures for individual life insurance, universal life
              insurance and supplementary contracts with life contingencies for
              which the estimated fair value is the amount payable on demand.
              Also included are disclosures for the Company's limited payment
              policies, which the Company has used discounted cash flow analyses
              similar to those used for investment contracts with known
              maturities to estimate fair value.

              POLICYHOLDERS' DIVIDEND ACCUMULATIONS AND OTHER POLICYHOLDER
              FUNDS: The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance
              sheets for these instruments approximates their fair value.

              COMMITMENTS TO EXTEND CREDIT: Commitments to extend credit have
              nominal fair value because of the short-term nature of such
              commitments. See note 9.

           Carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments
           subject to SFAS 107 and policy reserves on life insurance contracts
           were as follows as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           1996                            1995
                                                             ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                                Carrying      Estimated          Carrying       Estimated
                                                                 amount       fair value          amount        fair value
                                                             ------------------------------   --------------- ---------------
               <S>                                             <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>       
               Assets
               ------
               Investments:
                  Securities available-for-sale:
                     Fixed maturity securities                 $12,304,639     12,304,639        12,485,564      12,485,564
                     Equity securities                              59,131         59,131            29,953          29,953
                  Mortgage loans on real estate, net             5,272,119      5,397,865         4,602,764       4,961,655
                  Policy loans                                     371,816        371,816           336,356         336,356
                  Short-term investments                             4,789          4,789            32,792          32,792
               Cash                                                 43,784         43,784             9,455           9,455
               Assets held in Separate Accounts                 26,926,702     26,926,702        18,591,108      18,591,108

               Liabilities
               -----------
               Investment contracts                             13,914,441     13,484,526        13,229,360      12,876,798
               Policy reserves on life insurance contracts       2,971,337      2,775,991         2,836,323       2,733,486
               Policyholders' dividend accumulations               361,401        361,401           348,027         348,027
               Other policyholder funds                             60,073         60,073            65,297          65,297
               Liabilities related to Separate Accounts         26,926,702     26,164,213        18,591,108      18,052,362
</TABLE>

(9)      Additional Financial Instruments Disclosures
         --------------------------------------------
         
         FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK: The Company is a
         party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the
         normal course of business through management of its investment
         portfolio. These financial instruments include commitments to extend
         credit in the form of loans. These instruments involve, to varying
         degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of amounts recognized on the
         consolidated balance sheets.
<PAGE>   18
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         Commitments to fund fixed rate mortgage loans on real estate are
         agreements to lend to a borrower, and are subject to conditions
         established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed
         expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment
         of a deposit. Commitments extended by the Company are based on
         management's case-by-case credit evaluation of the borrower and the
         borrower's loan collateral. The underlying mortgage property represents
         the collateral if the commitment is funded. The Company's policy for
         new mortgage loans on real estate is to lend no more than 75% of
         collateral value. Should the commitment be funded, the Company's
         exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the borrower
         is represented by the contractual amounts of these commitments less the
         net realizable value of the collateral. The contractual amounts also
         represent the cash requirements for all unfunded commitments.
         Commitments on mortgage loans on real estate of $327,456 extending into
         1997 were outstanding as of December 31, 1996.

         SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK: The Company grants mainly
         commercial mortgage loans on real estate to customers throughout the
         United States. The Company has a diversified portfolio with no more
         than 21% (20% in 1995) in any geographic area and no more than 2% (2%
         in 1995) with any one borrower as of December 31, 1996.

         The Company had a significant reinsurance recoverable balance from one
         reinsurer as of December 31, 1996 and 1995. See note 6.

         The summary below depicts loans by remaining principal balance as of
         December 31, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             Apartment
                                                Office       Warehouse         Retail         & other           Total
                                              ------------  -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
              <S>                              <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>                 
               1996:
                 East North Central             $139,518        119,069         549,064         215,038        1,022,689
                 East South Central               33,267         22,252         172,968          90,623          319,110
                 Mountain                         17,972         43,027         113,292          73,390          247,681
                 Middle Atlantic                 129,077         54,046         160,833          18,498          362,454
                 New England                      33,348         43,581         161,960               -          238,889
                 Pacific                         202,562        325,046         424,295         110,108        1,062,011
                 South Atlantic                  103,889        134,492         482,934         385,185        1,106,500
                 West North Central              126,467          2,441          75,180          40,529          244,617
                 West South Central              104,877        120,314         197,090         304,256          726,537
                                              -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------  ------------
                                                $890,977        864,268       2,337,616       1,237,627        5,330,488
                                              ============  =============   =============   =============
                    Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                            58,369
                                                                                                            --------------
                         Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                             $5,272,119
                                                                                                            ==============
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 <S>                          <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>    
               1995:
                 East North Central             $138,965        101,925         514,995         175,213          931,098
                 East South Central               21,329         13,053         180,858          82,383          297,623
                 Mountain                              -         17,219         138,220          45,274          200,713
                 Middle Atlantic                 116,187         64,813         158,252          10,793          350,045
                 New England                       9,559         39,525         148,449               1          197,534
                 Pacific                         183,206        233,186         374,915         105,419          896,726
                 South Atlantic                  106,246         73,541         446,800         278,265          904,852
                 West North Central              133,899         14,205          78,065          36,651          262,820
                 West South Central               69,140         92,594         190,299         267,268          619,301
                                              ------------  ------------    -------------   -------------   --------------
                                                $778,531        650,061       2,230,853       1,001,267        4,660,712
                                              ============  =============   =============   =============
                    Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                            57,948
                                                                                                            --------------
                         Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                             $4,602,764
                                                                                                            ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   19
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


(10)     Pension Plan
         ------------

         The Company is a participant, together with other affiliated companies,
         in a pension plan covering all employees who have completed at least
         one thousand hours of service within a twelve-month period and who have
         met certain age requirements. Benefits are based upon the highest
         average annual salary of a specified number of consecutive years of the
         last ten years of service. The Company funds pension costs accrued for
         direct employees plus an allocation of pension costs accrued for
         employees of affiliates whose work efforts benefit the Company.

         Effective January 1, 1995, the plan was amended to provide enhanced
         benefits for participants who met certain eligibility requirements and
         elected early retirement no later than March 15, 1995. The entire cost
         of the enhanced benefit was borne by NMIC and certain of its property
         and casualty insurance company affiliates.

         Effective December 31, 1995, the Nationwide Insurance Companies and
         Affiliates Retirement Plan was merged with the Farmland Mutual
         Insurance Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the Wausau Insurance
         Companies Pension Plan to form the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
         Retirement Plan. Immediately prior to the merger, the plans were
         amended to provide consistent benefits for service after January 1,
         1996. These amendments had no significant impact on the accumulated
         benefit obligation or projected benefit obligation as of December 31,
         1995.

         Pension costs charged to operations by the Company during the years
         ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 were $7,381, $10,478 and
         $10,063, respectively.

         The Company's net accrued pension expense as of December 31, 1996 and
         1995 was $1,075 and $1,392, respectively.

         The net periodic pension cost for the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
         Retirement Plan as a whole for the year ended December 31, 1996 and for
         the Nationwide Insurance Companies and Affiliates Retirement Plan as a
         whole for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996             1995              1994
                                                                   ---------------  ---------------   ---------------

              <S>                                                    <C>                  <C>               <C>   
              Service cost (benefits earned during the period)       $   75,466           64,524            64,740
              Interest cost on projected benefit obligation             105,511           95,283            73,951
              Actual return on plan assets                             (210,583)        (249,294)          (21,495)
              Net amortization and deferral                             101,795          143,353           (62,150)
                                                                   ---------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                     $   72,189           53,866            55,046
                                                                   ===============  ===============   ===============
</TABLE>


         Basis for measurements, net periodic pension cost:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996             1995              1994
                                                                   ---------------  ---------------   ---------------

              <S>                                                   <C>              <C>               <C>  
              Weighted average discount rate                           6.00%            7.50%             5.75%
              Rate of increase in future compensation levels           4.25%            6.25%             4.50%
              Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets         6.75%            8.75%             7.00%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   20
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         Information regarding the funded status of the Nationwide Insurance
         Enterprise Retirement Plan as a whole as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
         follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                1996              1995
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
              <S>                                                          <C>               <C>      
              Accumulated benefit obligation:
                 Vested                                                      $1,338,554         1,236,730
                 Nonvested                                                       11,149            26,503
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                                                                             $1,349,703         1,263,233
                                                                           ===============   ===============

              Net accrued pension expense:
                 Projected benefit obligation for services rendered to       
                    date                                                     $1,847,828         1,780,616
                 Plan assets at fair value                                    1,947,933         1,738,004
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                    Plan assets in excess of (less than) projected benefit
                       obligation                                               100,105           (42,612)
                 Unrecognized prior service cost                                 37,870            42,845
                 Unrecognized net gains                                        (201,952)          (63,130)
                 Unrecognized net asset at transition                            37,158            41,305
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------
                                                                            $   (26,819)          (21,592)
                                                                           ===============   ===============
</TABLE>

         Basis for measurements, funded status of plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1996              1995
                                                                           ---------------   ---------------

              <S>                                                              <C>               <C>  
              Weighted average discount rate                                   6.50%             6.00%
              Rate of increase in future compensation levels                   4.75%             4.25%
</TABLE>

         Assets of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan are
         invested in group annuity contracts of NLIC and ELICW.

(11)     Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions
         -------------------------------------------

         In addition to the defined benefit pension plan, the Company, together
         with other affiliated companies, participates in life and health care
         defined benefit plans for qualifying retirees. Postretirement life and
         health care benefits are contributory and generally available to full
         time employees who have attained age 55 and have accumulated 15 years
         of service with the Company after reaching age 40. Postretirement
         health care benefit contributions are adjusted annually and contain
         cost-sharing features such as deductibles and coinsurance. In addition,
         there are caps on the Company's portion of the per-participant cost of
         the postretirement health care benefits. These caps can increase
         annually, but not more than three percent. The Company's policy is to
         fund the cost of health care benefits in amounts determined at the
         discretion of management. Plan assets are invested primarily in group
         annuity contracts of NLIC.

         The Company elected to immediately recognize its estimated accumulated
         postretirement benefit obligation; however, certain affiliated
         companies elected to amortize their initial transition obligation over
         periods ranging from 10 to 20 years.

         The Company's accrued postretirement benefit expense as of December 31,
         1996 and 1995 was $34,884 and $33,537, respectively, and the net
         periodic postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) for 1996, 1995 and 1994
         was $3,286, $3,132 and $4,284, respectively.
<PAGE>   21
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         The amount of NPPBC for the plan as a whole for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        1996          1995          1994
                                                                                     -----------   -----------   -----------

            <S>                                                                       <C>              <C>           <C>  
             Service cost (benefits attributed to employee service during the year)   $  6,541         6,235         8,586
             Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation             13,679        14,151        14,011
             Actual return on plan assets                                               (4,348)       (2,657)       (1,622)
             Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates              173         2,966           568
             Net amortization and deferral                                               1,830        (1,619)        1,622
                                                                                     -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                                       $17,875        19,076        23,165
                                                                                     ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

         Information regarding the funded status of the plan as a whole as of
         December 31, 1996 and 1995 follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             1996              1995
                                                                                        ---------------   ---------------
             <S>                                                                          <C>                   <C>   
             Accrued postretirement benefit expense:
                Retirees                                                                  $   92,954            88,680
                Fully eligible, active plan participants                                      23,749            28,793
                Other active plan participants                                                83,986            90,375
                                                                                        ---------------   ---------------
                   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)                      200,689           207,848
                Plan assets at fair value                                                     63,044            54,325
                                                                                        ---------------   ---------------
                   Plan assets less than accumulated postretirement benefit obligation      (137,645)         (153,523)
                Unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates                               1,654             1,827
                Unrecognized net gains                                                       (23,225)           (1,038)
                                                                                        ---------------   ---------------
                                                                                           $(159,216)         (152,734)
                                                                                        ===============   ===============
</TABLE>

         Actuarial  assumptions  used for the  measurement  of the APBO as of 
         December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the NPPBC for 1996, 1995 and 1994 were 
         as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1996          1996         1995         1995         1994
                                                      APBO         NPPBC         APBO        NPPBC         NPPBC
                                                   ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------
             <S>                                     <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>  

             Discount rate                            7.25%         6.65%        6.75%        8.00%        7.00%
             Long-term rate of return on plan
                 assets, net of tax                     -           4.80%         -           8.00%         N/A
             Assumed health care cost trend rate:
                 Initial rate                        11.00%        11.00%       11.00%       10.00%       12.00%
                 Ultimate rate                        6.00%         6.00%        6.00%        6.00%        6.00%
                 Uniform declining period           12 Years      12 Years     12 Years     12 Years     12 Years
</TABLE>


         The health care cost trend rate assumption has an effect on the amounts
         reported. For the plan as a whole, a one percentage point increase in
         the assumed health care cost trend rate would increase the APBO as of
         December 31, 1996 by $701 and the NPPBC for the year ended December 31,
         1996 by $83.

(12)     Shareholder's Equity, Regulatory Risk-Based Capital, Retained Earnings 
         and Dividend Restrictions
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

         Each insurance company's state of domicile imposes minimum risk-based
         capital requirements that were developed by the NAIC. The formulas for
         determining the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting
         factors that are applied to financial balances or various levels of
         activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance
         is determined by a ratio of the company's regulatory total adjusted
         capital, as defined by the NAIC, to its authorized control level
         risk-based capital, as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific
         trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of
         which requires specified corrective action. NLIC and each of its
         insurance company subsidiaries exceed the minimum risk-based capital
         requirements.
<PAGE>   22
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


         The statutory capital shares and surplus of NLIC as of December 31,
         1996, 1995 and 1994 was $1,000,647, $1,363,031 and $1,262,861,
         respectively. The statutory net income of NLIC for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $73,218, $86,529 and $76,532,
         respectively.

         NLIC is limited in the amount of shareholder dividends it may pay
         without prior approval by the Department of Insurance of the State of
         Ohio (the Department). NLIC's dividend of the outstanding shares of
         common stock of certain companies which was declared on September 24,
         1996 and the anticipated $850,000 dividend (as discussed in note 1) are
         deemed extraordinary under Ohio insurance laws. As a result of such
         dividends, any dividend paid by NLIC during the 12-month period
         immediately following the $850,000 dividend would also be an
         extraordinary dividend under Ohio insurance laws. Accordingly, no such
         dividend could be paid without prior regulatory approval.

         In addition, the payment of dividends by NLIC may also be subject to
         restrictions set forth in the insurance laws of New York that limit the
         amount of statutory profits on NLIC's participating policies (measured
         before dividends to policyholders) that can inure to the benefit of the
         Company and its stockholder.

         The Company currently does not expect such regulatory requirements to
         impair its ability to pay operating expenses and stockholder dividends
         in the future.

(13)     Transactions With Affiliates
         ----------------------------

         The Company leases office space from NMIC and certain of its
         subsidiaries. For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the
         Company made lease payments to NMIC and its subsidiaries of $9,065,
         $8,986 and $8,133, respectively.

         Pursuant to a cost sharing agreement among NMIC and certain of its
         direct and indirect subsidiaries, including the Company, NMIC provides
         certain operational and administrative services, such as sales support,
         advertising, personnel and general management services, to those
         subsidiaries. Expenses covered by this agreement are subject to
         allocation among NMIC, the Company and other affiliates. Amounts
         allocated to the Company were $101,584, $107,112, and $100,601 in 1996,
         1995 and 1994, respectively. The allocations are based on techniques
         and procedures in accordance with insurance regulatory guidelines.
         Measures used to allocate expenses among companies include individual
         employee estimates of time spent, special cost studies, salary expense,
         commissions expense and other methods agreed to by the participating
         companies that are within industry guidelines and practices. The
         Company believes these allocation methods are reasonable. In addition,
         the Company does not believe that expenses recognized under the
         intercompany agreements are materially different than expenses that
         would have been recognized had the Company operated on a stand alone
         basis. Amounts payable to NMIC from the Company under the cost sharing
         agreement were $15,111 and $1,186 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
         respectively.

         The Company also participates in intercompany repurchase agreements
         with affiliates whereby the seller will transfer securities to the
         buyer at a stated value. Upon demand or a stated period, the securities
         will be repurchased by the seller at the original sales price plus a
         price differential. Transactions under the agreements during 1996 and
         1995 were not material. The Company believes that the terms of the
         repurchase agreements are materially consistent with what the Company
         could have obtained with unaffiliated parties.
<PAGE>   23

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         Intercompany reinsurance contracts exist between NLIC and, respectively
         NMIC and ELICW whereby all of NLIC's accident and health and group life
         insurance business is ceded on a modified coinsurance basis. NLIC
         entered into the reinsurance agreements during 1996 because the
         accident and health and group life insurance business was unrelated to
         NLIC's long-term savings and retirement products. Accordingly, the
         accident and health and group life insurance business has been
         accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
         Under modified coinsurance agreements, invested assets are retained by
         the ceding company and investment earnings are paid to the reinsurer.
         Under the terms of NLIC's agreements, the investment risk associated
         with changes in interest rates is borne by NMIC or ELICW, as the case
         may be. Risk of asset default is retained by NLIC, although a fee is
         paid by NMIC or ELICW, as the case may be, to NLIC for the NLIC's
         retention of such risk. The agreements will remain in force until all
         policy obligations are settled. However, with respect to the agreement
         between NLIC and NMIC, either party may terminate the contract on
         January 1 of any year with prior notice. The ceding of risk does not
         discharge the original insurer from its primary obligation to the
         policyholder. NLIC believes that the terms of the modified coinsurance
         agreements are consistent in all material respects with what NLIC could
         have obtained with unaffiliated parties.

         Amounts ceded to ELICW in 1996 are included in ELICW's results of
         operations for 1996 which, combined with the results of WCLIC and NCC,
         are summarized in note 2. Amounts ceded to ELICW in 1996 include
         premiums of $224,224, net investment income and other revenue of
         $14,833, and benefits, claims and other expenses of $246,641. Amounts
         ceded to NMIC in 1996 include premiums of $97,331, net investment
         income of $10,890, and benefits, claims and other expenses of $100,476.

         The Company and various affiliates entered into agreements with
         Nationwide Cash Management Company (NCMC) and California Cash
         Management Company (CCMC), both affiliates, under which NCMC and CCMC
         act as common agents in handling the purchase and sale of short-term
         securities for the respective accounts of the participants. Amounts on
         deposit with NCMC and CCMC were $4,789 and $9,654 as of December 31,
         1996 and 1995, respectively, and are included in short-term investments
         on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

         On April, 5 1996, Nationwide Corp. contributed all of the outstanding
         shares, with shareholder equity value of $30, of NISC to NLIC. NLIC
         contributed an additional $500 to NISC on August 30, 1996.

         On March 1, 1995, Nationwide Corp. contributed all of the outstanding
         shares of common stock of Farmland Life Insurance Company (Farmland) to
         NLIC. Farmland merged into WCLIC effective June 30, 1995. The
         contribution resulted in a direct increase to consolidated
         shareholder's equity of $46,918. As discussed in note 2, WCLIC is
         accounted for as discontinued operations.

         Effective December 31, 1994, NLIC purchased all of the outstanding
         shares of common stock of ELICW from Wausau Service Corporation (WSC)
         for $155,000. NLIC transferred fixed maturity securities and cash with
         a fair value of $155,000 to WSC on December 28, 1994, which resulted in
         a realized loss of $19,239 on the disposition of the securities. The
         purchase price approximated both the historical cost basis and fair
         value of net assets of ELICW. ELICW has and will continue to share home
         office, other facilities, equipment and common management and
         administrative services with WSC. As discussed in note 2, ELICW is
         accounted for as discontinued operations.

         Certain annuity products are sold through three affiliated companies
         which are also subsidiaries of Nationwide Corp. Total commissions and
         fees paid to these affiliates for the years ended December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994 were $76,922, $57,280 and $50,168, respectively.

(14)     Bank Lines of Credit
         --------------------

         In August 1996, NLIC, along with NMIC, established a $600,000 revolving
         credit facility which provides for a $600,000 loan over a five year
         term on a fully revolving basis with a group of national financial
         institutions. The credit facility provides for several and not joint
         liability with respect to any amount drawn by either NLIC or NMIC. NLIC
         and NMIC pay facility and usage fees to the financial institutions to
         maintain the revolving credit facility. All previously existing line of
         credit agreements were canceled.
<PAGE>   24
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued


(15)     Contingencies
         -------------

         The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits. In the opinion of
         management, the effects, if any, of such lawsuits are not expected to
         be material to the Company's financial position or results of
         operations.

(16)     Segment Information
         -------------------

         The Company has three primary segments: Variable Annuities, Fixed
         Annuities and Life Insurance. The Variable Annuities segment consists
         of annuity contracts that provide the customer with the opportunity to
         invest in mutual funds managed by the Company and independent
         investment managers, with the investment returns accumulating on a
         tax-deferred basis. The Fixed Annuities segment consists of annuity
         contracts that generate a return for the customer at a specified
         interest rate, fixed for a prescribed period, with returns accumulating
         on a tax-deferred basis. The Life Insurance segment consists of
         insurance products that provide a death benefit and may also allow the
         customer to build cash value on a tax-deferred basis. In addition, the
         Company reports corporate expenses and investments, and the related
         investment income supporting capital not specifically allocated to its
         product segments in a Corporate and Other segment. In addition, all
         realized gains and losses, investment management fees and other revenue
         earned from mutual funds, other than the portion allocated to the
         variable annuities and life insurance segments, are reported in the
         Corporate and Other segment.

         During 1996, the Company changed its reporting segments to better
         reflect the way the businesses are managed. Prior periods have been
         restated to reflect these changes.

         The following table summarizes the revenues and income from continuing
         operations before federal income tax expense for the years ended
         December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 and assets as of December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994, by business segment.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              1996              1995              1994
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
             <S>                                                        <C>                <C>               <C>    
              Revenues:
                   Variable Annuities                                      $    284,638          189,071           132,687
                   Fixed Annuities                                            1,092,566        1,051,970           939,868
                   Life Insurance                                               435,657          409,135           383,150
                   Corporate and Other                                          179,977          148,475           143,794
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                           $  1,992,838        1,798,651         1,599,499
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============

              Income from continuing operations before federal income tax
                 expense:
                   Variable Annuities                                            90,244           50,837            24,574
                   Fixed Annuities                                              135,405          137,000           138,950
                   Life Insurance                                                67,242           67,590            53,046
                   Corporate and Other                                           22,606           32,145            25,288
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                          $     315,497          287,572           241,858
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============

              Assets:

                   Variable Annuities                                        25,069,725       17,333,039        11,146,465
                   Fixed Annuities                                           13,994,715       13,250,359        11,668,973
                   Life Insurance                                             3,353,286        3,027,420         2,752,283
                   Corporate and Other                                        5,348,520        4,896,815         3,678,303
                                                                        -----------------  ---------------   ---------------
                                                                            $47,766,246       38,507,633        29,246,024
                                                                        =================  ===============   ===============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   65

                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

   
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form S-7 Registration Statement
comprises the following papers and documents:
    

The facing sheet,

Cross-reference to items required by Form N-8B-2,

   
The prospectus consisting of 95 pages,
    

Representations and Undertakings,

Accountants' Consent

The Signatures,

The following exhibits required by Forms N-8B-2 and S-7:

   
1,    Power of Attorney dated April 2, 1997  Attached hereto.
    

2,    Resolution of the Depositor's          Included with the Registration     
      Board of Directors                     Statement on Form N-8B-2 for the   
      authorizing the establishment          Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3  
      of the Registrant, adopted             (File No, 811-6140), and hereby    
                                             incorporated herein by reference.  
                                             

3,    Distribution Contracts                 Included with the Registration    
                                             Statement on Form N-8B-2 for the  
                                             Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 
                                             (File No, 811-6140), and hereby   
                                             incorporated herein by reference. 

4,    Form of Security                       Included with the Registration    
                                             Statement on Form S-6 for the     
                                             Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 
                                             (File No, 33-44296), and hereby   
                                             incorporated herein by reference. 

5,    Articles of Incorporation of           Included with the Registration    
      Depositor                              Statement on Form N-8B-2 for the  
                                             Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 
                                             (File No, 811-6140), and hereby   
                                             incorporated herein by reference. 

6,    Application form of Security           Included with the Registration     
                                             Statement on Form S-6 for the      
                                             Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3  
                                             (File No, 33-44296), and hereby    
                                             incorporated herein by reference.  

7,    Opinion of Counsel                     Included with the Registration    
                                             Statement on Form S-6 for the     
                                             Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 
                                             (File No, 33-44296), and hereby   
                                             incorporated herein by reference. 
<PAGE>   66

Representations and Undertakings

The Registrant and the Company hereby make the following representations and
undertakings:

(a) This filing is made pursuant to Rules 6c-3 and 6e-3(T) under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"), The Registrant and the Company elect to be
governed by Rule 6e-3(T)(13)(i)(A) under the Act with respect to the Policies
described in the prospectus, The Policies have been designed in such a way as to
qualify for the exemptive relief from various provisions of the Act afforded by
Rule 6e-3(T),

(b) Paragraph (b) (13) (iii) (F) of Rule 6e-3(T) is being relied on for the
deduction of the mortality and expense risk charges ("risk charges") assumed by
the Company under the Policies, The Company represents that the risk charges are
within the range of industry practice for comparable policies and reasonable in
relation to all of the risks assumed by the issuer under the Policies, Actuarial
memoranda demonstrating the reasonableness of these charges are maintained by
the Company, and will be made available to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on request,

(c) The Company has concluded that there is a reasonable likelihood that the
distribution financing arrangement of the separate account will benefit the
separate account and the contractholders and will keep and make available to the
Commission on request a memorandum setting forth the basis for this
representation,

(d) The Company represents that the separate account will invest only in
management investment companies which have undertaken to have a board of
directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Company,
formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses,

(e) Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant hereby undertakes to file with the
Commission such supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports
as may be prescribed by any rule or regulation of the Commission heretofore or
hereafter duly adopted pursuant to authority conferred in that section,

   
(f) The Company represents that the fees and charges deducted under the Policy
in the aggregate are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the
expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by the Company.
    
<PAGE>   67

                              Accountants' Consent

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and 
Contract Owners of Nationwide VLI Separate Account - 3:

We consent to the use of our reports included herein and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.


                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio

   
April 22, 1997
    
<PAGE>   68

                                   SIGNATURES

   
      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3, certifies that it meets the
requirements of Securities Act Rule 485(b) for effectiveness of this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 and has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 10 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized, and its seal to be hereunto affixed and attested, all in the City of
Columbus, and State of Ohio, on this 22nd day of April, 1997.
    

                                        NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT-3
                                                   (Registrant)
(Seal)                                  NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Attest:                                             (Sponsor)


/s/ W. SIDNEY DRUEN                     By:        /s/ JOSEPH P. RATH
- ----------------------------------         ------------------------------
W. Sidney Druen                                     Joseph P. Rath
Assistant Secretary                                 Vice President

   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective
Amendment No.10 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
indicated on the 22nd day of April, 1997.
    

                Signature                      Title

LEWIS J. ALPHIN                               Director
- ---------------------------
Lewis J. Alphin

KEITH W. ECKEL                                Director
- ---------------------------
Keith W. Eckel

WILLARD J. ENGEL                             Director
- ---------------------------
Willard J. Engel

FRED C. FINNEY                               Director
- ---------------------------
Fred C. Finney

CHARLES L. FUELLGRAF, JR.                    Director
- ---------------------------
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr.

JOSEPH J. GASPER                             President/Chief
- ---------------------------          Operating Office and Director
Joseph J. Gasper                     

HENRY S. HOLLOWAY                      Chairman of the Board
- ---------------------------                and Director
Henry S. Holloway                          

DIMON RICHARD McFERSON           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- ---------------------------  Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and Director
Dimon Richard McFerson     

DAVID O. MILLER                              Director
- ---------------------------
David O. Miller

C. RAY NOECKER                               Director
- ---------------------------
C. Ray Noecker

ROBERT A. OAKLEY                     Executive Vice President-
- ---------------------------           Chief Financial Officer
Robert A. Oakley                      

JAMES F. PATTERSON                           Director       By/s/JOSEPH P. RATH
- --------------------------                                  ------------------
James F. Patterson                                           Joseph P. Rath
                                                            Attorney-In-Fact
ARDEN L. SHISLER                             Director          
- --------------------------
Arden L. Shisler

ROBERT L. STEWART                            Director
- --------------------------
Robert L. Stewart

NANCY C. THOMAS                              Director
- --------------------------
Nancy C. Thomas

HAROLD W. WEIHL                              Director
- --------------------------
Harold W. Weihl


<PAGE>   1
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned as
directors and/or officers of NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, and NATIONWIDE
LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY, both Ohio corporations, which have filed or
will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, various Registration Statements and
amendments thereto for the registration under said Act of Individual Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts in connection with MFS Variable Account, Nationwide
Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-II, Nationwide Variable Account-3,
Nationwide Variable Account-4, Nationwide Variable Account-5, Nationwide
Variable Account-6, Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account, Nationwide
Multi-Flex Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-8, Nationwide VA
Separate Account-A, Nationwide VA Separate Account-B, Nationwide VA Separate
Account-C and Nationwide VA Separate Account-Q; and the registration of fixed
interest rate options subject to a market value adjustment offered under some or
all of the aforementioned individual Variable Annuity Contracts in connection
with Nationwide Multiple Maturity Separate Account and Nationwide Multiple
Maturity Separate Account-A, and the registration of Group Flexible Fund
Retirement Contracts in connection with Nationwide DC Variable Account,
Nationwide DCVA-II, and NACo Variable Account; and the registration of Group
Common Stock Variable Annuity Contracts in connection with Separate Account No.
1; and the registration of variable life insurance policies in connection with
Nationwide VLI Separate Account, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2, Nationwide
VLI Separate Account-3, Nationwide VL Separate Account-A and Nationwide VL
Separate Account-B, hereby constitutes and appoints Dimon Richard McFerson,
Joseph J. Gasper, W. Sidney Druen, and Joseph P. Rath, and each of them with
power to act without the others, his/her attorney, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for and in his/her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to approve, and sign such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto, with power to affix the corporate seal of said
corporation thereto and to attest said seal and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting unto said attorneys, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and
thing requisite to all intents and purposes as he/she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming that which said attorneys, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This instrument may
be executed in one or more counterparts.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have herewith set their names and
seals as of this 2nd day of April, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>
/s/ Lewis J. Alphin                                                 /s/ David O. Miller
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Lewis J. Alphin, Director                                           David O. Miller, Director

/s/ Keith W. Eckel                                                  /s/ C. Ray Noecker
- -------------------------------------------------                   -------------------------------------------------
Keith W. Eckel, Director                                            C. Ray Noecker, Director

/s/ Willard J. Engel                                                /s/ Robert A. Oakley
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Willard J. Engel, Director                                          Robert A. Oakley, Executive Vice President and Chief
                                                                    Financial Officer

/s/ Fred C. Finney                                                  /s/ James F. Patterson
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Fred C. Finney, Director                                            James F. Patterson, Director

/s/ Charles L. Fuellgraf                                            /s/ Arden L. Shisler
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr., Director                                 Arden L. Shisler, Director

/s/ Joseph J. Gasper                                                /s/ Robert L. Stewart
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Joseph J. Gasper, President and Chief Operating Officer             Robert L. Stewart, Director
and Director

/s/ Henry S. Holloway                                               /s/ Nancy C. Thomas
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Henry S. Holloway, Chairman of the Board, Director                  Nancy C. Thomas, Director

/s/ Dimon Richard McFerson                                          /s/ Harold W. Weihl
- -------------------------------------------------                   --------------------------------------------------
Dimon Richard McFerson, Chairman and Chief Executive                Harold W. Weihl, Director
Officer-Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and Director
</TABLE>






© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission