NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY VARIABLE ACCOUNT
485B24F, 1996-04-29
Previous: MCKESSON CORP, 8-K, 1996-04-29
Next: NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY VARIABLE ACCOUNT, 485BPOS, 1996-04-29



<PAGE>   1
              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                       '33 Act File No. 33-82174
                                                       '40 Act File No. 811-8666

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


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM N-4

                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
                                   ACT OF 1933

   
                       POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 3 [x]
    
                                       and

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                         INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
   
                              AMENDMENT NO. 4 [x]
    
                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                           (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT)

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                               (NAME OF DEPOSITOR)

                 ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43216-6609
         (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (614) 249-7111

 GORDON E. MCCUTCHAN, SECRETARY, ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA, COLUMBUS, OHIO 43216-6609
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)


       This Post-Effective Amendment amends the Registration Statement in
respect of the Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information and the
Financial Statements.

       It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
space):

   

[ ]    immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
[X]    on May 1, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
[ ]    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
[ ]    on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) 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. Pursuant to Paragraph (a)(3) thereof, a non-refundable fee
in the amount of $500 has been paid to the Commission. Registrant filed its Rule
24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, on February 15, 1996.
    
================================================================================


                                    1 of 96
<PAGE>   2
                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                     REFERENCE TO ITEMS REQUIRED BY FORM N-4

Caption in Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and Other
Information

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
N-4 ITEM                                                                                              PAGE
   
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
Part A     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS
     Item    1.   Cover page .......................................................................    3
     Item    2.   Definitions ......................................................................    4
     Item    3.   Synopsis or Highlights ...........................................................   10
     Item    4.   Condensed Financial Information ..................................................   11
     Item    5.   General Description of Registrant, Depositor, and Portfolio Companies ............   12
     Item    6.   Deductions and Expenses ..........................................................   14
     Item    7.   General Description of Variable Annuity Contracts ................................   15
     Item    8.   Annuity Period ...................................................................   19
     Item    9.   Death Benefit and Distributions ..................................................   21
     Item   10.   Purchases and Contract Value .....................................................   26
     Item   11.   Redemptions ......................................................................   27
     Item   12.   Taxes ............................................................................   28
     Item   13.   Legal Proceedings ................................................................   34
     Item   14.   Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information .....................   34

Part B     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
     Item   15.   Cover Page .......................................................................   37
     Item   16.   Table of Contents ................................................................   37
     Item   17.   General Information and History ..................................................   37
     Item   18    Services .........................................................................   37
     Item   19.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered .............................................   37
     Item   20.   Underwriters .....................................................................   38
     Item   21.   Calculation of Performance Information ...........................................   38
     Item   22.   Annuity Payments .................................................................   40
     Item   23.   Financial Statements .............................................................   41

Part C     OTHER INFORMATION
     Item   24.   Financial Statements and Exhibits ................................................   78
     Item   25.   Directors and Officers of the Depositor ..........................................   80
     Item   26.   Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor or Registrant ...   82
     Item   27.   Number of Contract Owners ........................................................   91
     Item   28.   Indemnification ..................................................................   91
     Item   29.   Principal Underwriter ............................................................   92
     Item   30.   Location of Accounts and Records .................................................   93
     Item   31.   Management Services ..............................................................   93
     Item   32.   Undertakings .....................................................................   93
    
</TABLE>



                                    2 of 96
<PAGE>   3
                       NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                   HOME OFFICE
                                 P.O. BOX 182610
                    COLUMBUS, OHIO 43218-2610, 1-800-573-5775
               VOICE RESPONSE (AVAILABLE 24 HOURS) 1-800-573-2447
                               TDD 1-800-238-3035

     INDIVIDUAL MODIFIED SINGLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
           ISSUED BY THE NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                      OF NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

   
       The Individual Modified Single Premium Deferred Variable Annuity
Contracts described in this prospectus are modified single purchase payment
contracts (collectively referred to as the "Contracts"). Reference throughout
the prospectus to such Contracts shall also mean certificates issued under Group
Modified Single Premium Retirement Contracts. For such Group Contracts,
references to "Owner" shall mean the "Participant" unless the Plan otherwise
permits or requires the Owner to exercise contractual rights under the authority
of the Plan terms. The Contracts are sold either as Non-Qualified Contracts or
as Individual Retirement Annuities with contributions rolled-over from certain
tax-qualified plans such as Tax Sheltered Annuity plans, Qualified Plans or
IRAs. Annuity payments under the Contracts are deferred until a selected later
date. 
    

       Purchase Payments are allocated to the Nationwide Fidelity Advisor
Variable Account ("Variable Account"), a separate account of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company (the "Company"). The Variable Account is divided into
Sub-Accounts, each of which invests in shares of one of the Mutual Fund options
described below:

                          FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY FUND

         Fidelity Advisor Annuity            Fidelity Advisor Annuity
         Government Investment Fund          Growth Opportunities Fund

         Fidelity Advisor Annuity            Fidelity Advisor Annuity
         High Yield Fund*                    Income & Growth Fund

         Fidelity Advisor Annuity            Fidelity Advisor Annuity
         Money Market Fund                   Overseas Fund

*The High Yield Fund may invest in lower quality debt securities commonly
referred to as junk bonds.

   
       This prospectus provides you with the basic information you should know
about the Individual Modified Single Premium Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts
issued by the Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account before investing. You
should read it and keep it for future reference. A Statement of Additional
Information dated May 1, 1996, containing further information about the
Contracts and the Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can obtain a copy without
charge from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by calling the number listed
above, or writing P.O. Box 182610, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2610.

INVESTMENTS IN THESE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, AND ARE NOT
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, THE ADVISER OF ANY OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS
IDENTIFIED ABOVE, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, OR ANY BANK OR BANK AFFILIATE.
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. ANY
INVESTMENT IN THE CONTRACT INVOLVES CERTAIN INVESTMENT RISK WHICH MAY INCLUDE
THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
    

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.

   
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 1996, IS INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION APPEARS ON PAGE 32 OF THE PROSPECTUS.

                   THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 1, 1996.
    


                                       1

                                    3 of 96
<PAGE>   4
                            GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

ACCUMULATION UNIT- An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the Variable
Account Contract Value prior to the Annuitization Date.

   
ANNUITANT- The person designated to receive annuity payments and upon whose
continuation of life any annuity payments involving life contingencies depends.
This person must be age 85 or younger at the time of Contract issuance unless
the Company has approved a request for an Annuitant of greater age. The
Annuitant may be changed prior to the Annuitization Date with the consent of the
Company.
    

ANNUITIZATION- The period during which annuity payments are actually received.

   
ANNUITIZATION DATE- The date on which annuity payments actually commence.

ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE- The date on which annuity payments are scheduled to
commence. The Annuity Commencement Date is shown on the Data Page of the
Contract, and is subject to change by the Owner.
    

ANNUITY PAYMENT OPTION- The chosen form of annuity payments. Several options are
available under the Contract.

ANNUITY UNIT- An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the value of
Variable Annuity payments.

   
BENEFICIARY- The Beneficiary is the person designated to receive certain
benefits under the Contract upon the death of the Designated Annuitant prior to
the Annuitization Date. The Beneficiary can be changed by the Contract Owner as
set forth in the Contract.
    

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

COMPANY- Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

   
CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY- The Contingent Beneficiary is the person designated to
be the Beneficiary if the named Beneficiary is not living at the time of the
death of the Designated Annuitant.

CONTINGENT DESIGNATED ANNUITANT- The Contingent Designated Annuitant may be the
recipient of certain rights or benefits under this Contract when the Designated
Annuitant dies before the Annuitization Date. If a Contingent Designated
Annuitant is named on the application, all provisions of the Contract which are
based on the death of the Designated Annuitant will be based on the death of the
last survivor of the Designated Annuitant and the Contingent Designated
Annuitant. A Contingent Designated Annuitant may not be named for Contracts
issued as IRAs or Tax Sheltered Annuities.

CONTINGENT OWNER- A Contingent Owner succeeds to the rights of the Contract
Owner upon the Contract Owner's death before Annuitization. For Contracts issued
in the State of New York, references throughout this prospectus to "Contingent
Owner" shall mean "Owner's Beneficiary." A Contingent Owner may not be named for
Contracts issued as IRAs or Tax Sheltered Annuities.
    

CONTRACT- The Individual Modified Single Premium Deferred Variable Annuity
Contract described in this prospectus.

CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY- An anniversary of the Date of Issue of the Contract.

   
CONTRACT OWNER (OWNER)- The Contract Owner is the person who possesses all
rights under the Contract, including the right to designate and change any
designations of the Owner, Contingent Owner, Designated Annuitant, Contingent
Designated Annuitant, Beneficiary, Contingent Beneficiary, Annuity Payment
Option, and the Annuity Commencement Date.
    

CONTRACT VALUE- The sum of the value of all Variable Account Accumulation Units
attributable to the Contract plus any amount held under the Contract in the
Fixed Account.

   
CONTRACT YEAR- Each year the Contract remains in force commencing with the Date
of Issue.

DATE OF ISSUE- The date shown as the Date of Issue on the Data Page of the
Contract.

DEATH BENEFIT- The benefit payable upon the death of the Designated Annuitant
(or the Contingent Designated Annuitant, if applicable). This benefit does not
apply upon the death of the Contract Owner when the Owner 
    


                                       2

                                    4 of 96
<PAGE>   5
   
and Designated Annuitant are not the same person. If the Annuitant dies after
the Annuitization Date, any benefit that may be payable shall be as specified in
the Annuity Payment Option elected.

DESIGNATED ANNUITANT- The person designated prior to the Annuitization Date to
receive annuity payments. No change of Designated Annuitant may be made without
the prior consent of the Company.

    

DISTRIBUTION- Any payment of part or all of the Contract Value.

   

ERISA- The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

FIXED ACCOUNT- The Fixed Account is made up of all assets of the Company other
than those in the Variable Account or any other segregated asset account of the
Company.

FIXED ANNUITY- An annuity providing for payments which are guaranteed by the
Company as to dollar amount during Annuitization.
    

HOME OFFICE- The main office of the Company located in Columbus, Ohio.

   
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY (IRA)- An annuity which qualifies for favorable
tax treatment under Section 408 of the Code.

INTEREST RATE GUARANTEE PERIOD- An Interest Rate Guarantee Period is the
interval of time during which an interest rate credited to the Fixed Account is
guaranteed to remain the same. For new Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed
Account or transfers from the Variable Account, this period begins upon the date
of deposit or transfer and ends at the end of the calendar quarter at least one
year (but not more than 15 months) from deposit or transfer. At the end of an
Interest Rate Guarantee Period, a new interest rate is declared with an Interest
Rate Guarantee Period starting at the end of the prior period and ending at the
end of the calendar quarter one year later.
    

JOINT OWNER- The Joint Owner, if any, possesses an undivided interest in the
entire Contract in conjunction with the Owner. IF A JOINT OWNER IS NAMED,
REFERENCES TO "CONTRACT OWNER" OR "OWNER" IN THIS PROSPECTUS WILL APPLY TO BOTH
THE OWNER AND JOINT OWNER. JOINT OWNERS MUST BE SPOUSES AT THE TIME JOINT
OWNERSHIP IS REQUESTED.

MUTUAL FUND (FUND)- A registered management investment company in which the
assets of the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account will be invested.

   

NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACT- A Contract which does not qualify for favorable tax
treatment under the provisions of Sections 401 or 403(a) (Qualified Plans), 408
(IRAs) or 403(b) (Tax-Sheltered Annuities) of the Code.

    

PURCHASE PAYMENT- A deposit of new value into the Contract. The term "Purchase
Payment" does not include transfers between the Variable Account and Fixed
Account, or among the Sub-Accounts.

   
QUALIFIED PLANS- Retirement plans which receive favorable tax treatment under
Section 401 or 403(a) of the Code.

SUB-ACCOUNTS- Separate and distinct divisions of the Variable Account, to which
specific underlying Mutual Fund shares are allocated and for which Accumulation
Units and Annuity Units are separately maintained.

TAX SHELTERED ANNUITY- An annuity which qualifies for favorable tax treatment
under Section 403(b) of the Code.
    

   

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 that
the current net asset value of its Accumulation Units might be materially
affected.

    

VALUATION PERIOD- The period of time commencing at the close of business of the
New York Stock Exchange and ending at the close of business for the next
succeeding Valuation Date.

   
VARIABLE ACCOUNT- The Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account, a separate
investment account of the Company into which Variable Account Purchase Payments
are allocated. The Variable Account is divided into Sub-Accounts, each of which
invests in the shares of a separate underlying Mutual Fund.
    

VARIABLE ANNUITY- An annuity providing for payments which are not predetermined
or guaranteed as to dollar amount and which vary in amount with the investment
experience of the Variable Account.


                                       3

                                    5 of 96
<PAGE>   6
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
   
<S>                                                                           <C>
GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS .................................................    2
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES ..............................................    6
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES ....................................    6
SYNOPSIS ..................................................................    8
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...........................................    9
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY .........................................   10
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT ......................................................   10
         Underlying Mutual Fund Options ...................................   10
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Fund ....................................   10
         Voting Rights ....................................................   11
VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES, PURCHASE PAYMENTS, AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS .........   12
         Mortality Risk Charge ............................................   12
         Expense Risk Charge ..............................................   12
         Contingent Deferred Sales Charge .................................   12
         Administration Charge ............................................   13
         Premium Taxes ....................................................   13
         Expenses of Variable Account .....................................   13
         Investments of the Variable Account ..............................   14
         Right to Revoke ..................................................   14
         Transfers ........................................................   14
         Assignment .......................................................   15
         Loan Privilege ...................................................   15
         Ownership Provisions .............................................   16
         Contingent Owner and Beneficiary Provisions ......................   17
         Substitution of Securities .......................................   17
         Contract Owner Inquiries .........................................   17
ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD-VARIABLE ACCOUNT ...................................   17
         Value of an Annuity Unit .........................................   18
         Assumed Investment Rate ..........................................   18
         Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments .........................   18
         Annuity Commencement Date ........................................   18
         Change in Annuity Commencement Date ..............................   18
         Change in Form of Annuity ........................................   18
         Annuity Payment Options ..........................................   18
         Death of Contract Owner ..........................................   19
         Death of Designated Annuitant Prior to the Annuitization Date ....   19
         Death of Annuitant After the Annuitization Date ..................   20
         Required Distribution for Tax Sheltered Annuities ................   20
         Required Distributions for Individual Retirement Annuities .......   21
         Generation - Skipping Transfers ..................................   22
GENERAL INFORMATION .......................................................   22
         Contract Owner Services ..........................................   22
         Statements and Reports ...........................................   23
         Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value ...............   24
         Value of a Variable Account Accumulation Unit ....................   24
         Net Investment Factor ............................................   24
         Valuation of Assets ..............................................   25
         Determining the Contract Value ...................................   25
         Surrender (Redemption) ...........................................   25
         Surrenders Under a Tax Sheltered Annuity Contract ................   26
         Taxes ............................................................   26
         Non-Qualified Contracts ..........................................   27
         Individual Retirement Annuities ..................................   28
         Diversification ..................................................   29
         Charge for Tax Provisions ........................................   29
    
</TABLE>


                                       4

                                    6 of 96
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
   
<S>                                                                          <C>
       Individual Retirement Annuities, Individual Retirement Accounts and
            Tax Sheltered Annuities ......................................   29
       Advertising .......................................................   29
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ........................................................   32
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .................   32
APPENDIX .................................................................   33
    
</TABLE>


                                       5

                                    7 of 96
<PAGE>   8
                          SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES

CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

   
<TABLE>
       <S>                                                                                       <C>
       Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge(1)                                                 7        %
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>
    
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 RANGE OF CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OVER TIME

           Number of Completed Years from                         Contingent Deferred Sales Load
              Date of Purchase Payment                                      Percentage

           <S>                                                    <C>
                          0                                                     7%
                          1                                                     6%
                          2                                                     5%
                          3                                                     4%
                          4                                                     3%
                          5                                                     2%
                          6                                                     1%
                          7                                                     0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                              <C>      
       Mortality and Expense Risk Charges                                                           1.25    %
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Administration Charge                                                                        0.15    %
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total Separate Account Annual Expenses                                                     1.40    %
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

   
(1)  Each Contract Year, the Contract Owner may withdraw without a Contingent
     Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) an amount equal to 10% of the total sum of all
     Purchase Payments made to the Contract at the time of withdrawal. In
     addition, any amount withdrawn in order for the Contract to meet minimum
     Distribution requirements under the Code shall be free of CDSC. Withdrawals
     may be restricted for Contracts issued pursuant to the terms of a Tax
     Sheltered Annuity. This CDSC-free withdrawal privilege is non-cumulative,
     that is, free amounts not taken during any given Contract Year cannot be
     taken as free amounts in a subsequent Contract Year (see "Contingent
     Deferred Sales Charge").
    

   
                   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES(2)
         (AS A PERCENTAGE OF UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Management                  Total Mutual
                                                           Fees     Other Expenses  Fund Expenses
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>             <C>  
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Government Investment Fund        0.00%         1.00%         1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Growth Opportunities Fund         0.61%         0.28%         0.89%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity High Yield Fund*                  0.43%         0.57%         1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Income & Growth Fund              0.51%         0.95%         1.46%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund*                0.24%         0.55%         0.79%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Overseas Fund                     0.00%         1.50%         1.50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
                                                                             
 *   Annualized

(2)  The Mutual Fund expenses shown above are assessed at the underlying Mutual
     Fund level and are not direct charges against separate account assets or
     reductions from Contract Values. 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 unit values of the
     Variable Account. The amounts are based on historical expenses, and for the
     Growth Opportunities Fund, the Income and Growth Fund, and the Money Market
     Fund are adjusted to reflect current fees, and are calculated as a
     percentage of each underlying Mutual Funds average net assets. The
     investment adviser has voluntarily agreed to reimburse the operating
     expenses of each fund above an annual rate of 1.00%, 1.50%, 1.00%, 1.50%,
     1.00% and 1.50% of the average net assets of the Government Investment
     Fund, the Growth Opportunities Fund, the High Yield Fund, the Income &
     Growth Fund, the Money Market Fund and the Overseas Fund, respectively. If
     these agreements were not in effect, the management fees, other expenses,
     and total underlying Mutual Fund expenses would be 0.45%, 1.44% and 1.89%
     for the Government Investment Fund; 0.60%, 0.56% and 1.16% for the High
     Yield Fund; and 0.76%, 2.14% and 2.90% for the overseas Fund. The
     information relating to the underlying Mutual Fund expense was provided by
     the underlying Mutual Fund and was not independently verified by the
     Company.
     


                                       6

                                    8 of 96
<PAGE>   9
                                     EXAMPLE

The following chart depicts the dollar amount of expenses that would be incurred
under this Contract assuming a $1000 investment and 5% annual return. These
dollar figures are illustrative only and should not be considered a
representation of past or future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or
lesser than those shown below.

   

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              If you surrender your Contract      If you do not surrender your      If you annuitize your Contract
                               at the end of the applicable        Contract at the end of the        at the end of the applicable
                                        time period                  applicable time period                    time period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              1 Yr.  3 Yrs.  5 Yrs.  10 Yrs.     1 Yr.  3 Yrs.  5 Yrs.    10 Yrs.  1 Yr.   3 Yrs.   5 Yrs.   10 Yrs.
                                                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>         <C>    <C>     <C>       <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      88     122      159      282       25      77      132      282       *       77       132     282
Government Investment
Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      87     119      154      271       24      74      127      271       *       74       127     271
Growth Opportunities Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      88     122      159      282       25      77      132      282       *       77       132     282
High Yield Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      93     137      183      329       30      92      156      329       *       92       156     329
Income & Growth Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      86     116      148      260       23      71      121      260       *       71       121     260
Money Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-      93     138      185      333       30      93      158      333       *       93       158     333
Overseas Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

    

   
*The Contracts sold under this prospectus do not permit annuitizations during
the first two Contract Years.

       The purpose of the Summary of Contract Expenses and Example is to assist
the Contract Owner in understanding the various costs and expenses that will be
borne directly or indirectly when investing in the Contract. The expenses of the
Variable Account as well as those of the Mutual Funds are reflected in the
Example. For more complete descriptions of the expenses of the Variable
Account, see "Variable Account Charges, Purchase Payments, and Other
Deductions." For more complete information regarding expenses paid out of
the assets of the underlying Mutual Funds, see the underlying Mutual Fund
prospectuses. Deductions for premium taxes may also apply but are not reflected
in the Example shown above (see "Premium Taxes").
    


                                       7

                                    9 of 96
<PAGE>   10
                                    SYNOPSIS
   
       There are three types of Contracts: (1) Non-Qualified Contracts, (2)
Individual Retirement Annuities purchased with contributions rolled over from
Qualified Plans, Tax Sheltered Annuities or IRAs, or (3) Tax Sheltered Annuities
with contributions rolled over or transferred from another Tax Sheltered
Annuity or Custodial Account.
    

       The Company does not deduct a sales charge from Purchase Payments made
for these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such
Contracts is surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct from
the Contract Owner's Contract Value a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge not to
exceed 7% of the lesser of the total of all Purchase Payments made within 84
months prior to the date of the request to surrender, or the amount surrendered.
This charge, when applicable, is imposed to permit the Company to recover sales
expenses which have been advanced by the Company (see "Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge").

       The Company will also assess an Administration Charge equal to an annual
rate of 0.15% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. This charge
is to reimburse the Company for administrative expenses related to the issue and
maintenance of the Contracts. The Company does not expect to recover from this
charge an amount in excess of accumulated administrative expenses (see
"Administration Charge").

       The Company deducts a Mortality Risk Charge equal to an annual rate of
0.80% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account for mortality risk
assumed by the Company (see "Mortality Risk Charge").

       The Company deducts an Expense Risk Charge equal to an annual rate of
0.45% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account as compensation for
the Company's risk in undertaking not to increase administrative charges on the
Contracts regardless of the actual administrative costs (see "Expense Risk
Charge").

   
       The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $15,000 and subsequent
Purchase Payments, if any, must be at least $1,000. Subsequent Purchase Payments
are not permitted for Contracts purchased in the states of New York, Oregon, and
Washington. The cumulative total of all Purchase Payments under Contracts issued
on the life of any one Designated Annuitant may not exceed $1,000,000 without
the prior consent of the Company (see "Allocation of Purchase Payments and
Contract Value").

       If the Contract Value at the Annuitization Date is less than $5000, the
Contract Value may be distributed in one lump sum in lieu of annuity payments.
If any annuity payment would be less than $50, the Company shall have the right
to change the frequency of payments to such intervals as will result in payments
of at least $50. In no event, however, will annuity payments be made less
frequently than annually (see "Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments").

       Premium taxes payable to any governmental entity will be charged against
the Contracts. If any such premium taxes are payable by the Company at the time
Purchase Payments are made, an equal premium tax deduction may be made from the
Contract prior to the allocation of any Purchase Payment to any underlying
Mutual Fund option (see "Premium Taxes").
    

       To be sure that the Contract Owner is satisfied with the Contract, the
Contract Owner has a ten day free look. Within ten days of the day the Contract
is received, it may be returned to the Home Office of the Company, at the
address shown on page 1 of this prospectus. When the Contract is received by the
Company, the Company will void the Contract and refund the Contract Value in
full unless otherwise required by state and/or federal law. All Individual
Retirement Annuity refunds will be return of Purchase Payments (see "Right to
Revoke").


                                       8

                                    10 of 96
<PAGE>   11
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Accumulation Unit Values for an Accumulation Unit outstanding through the
period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               Accumulation        Accumulation         Percent            Number Of
                                Unit Value          Unit Value         Change in         Accumulation
                               At Beginning           At End          Accumulation       Units At End          Year
FUND                             Of Period          Of Period          Unit Value          Of Period
   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>                 <C>                <C>                <C>                   <C> 
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.493314          14.93%              237,795            1995
Government Investment Fund-Q
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.493314          14.93%              443,946            1995
Government Investment Fund-NQ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          13.069019          30.69%            2,965,497            1995
Growth Opportunities Fund-Q
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          13.069019          30.69%            8,130,130            1995
Growth Opportunities Fund-NQ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.846502          18.47%              798,794            1995
High Yield Fund-Q
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.846502          18.47%            2,248,404            1995
High Yield Fund-NQ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.234358          12.34%              975,789            1995
Income & Growth Fund-Q
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          11.234358          12.34%            2,441,208            1995
Income & Growth Fund-NQ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          10.375160           3.75%              798,314            1995
Money Market Fund-Q*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          10.375160           3.75%            1,833,132            1995
Money Market Fund-NQ*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          10.858102           8.58%              369,362            1995
Overseas Fund-Q
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity-         10.000000          10.858102           8.58%            1,018,290            1995
Overseas Fund-NQ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

   
* The 7-day yield on the Money Market Fund as of December 31, 1995 was 3.98%.
    


                                       9

                                    11 of 96
<PAGE>   12
                        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, with its Home Office at One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus,
Ohio 43216-6609. The Company offers a complete line of life insurance, including
annuities and accident and health insurance. It is admitted to do business in
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and in all states.

                              THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

       The Variable Account was established by the Company on July 22, 1994,
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. 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 liabilities arising out of any other business
the Company may conduct. The Company does not guarantee the investment
performance of the Variable Account. Obligations under the Contracts, however,
are obligations of the Company. Income, gains and losses, whether or not
realized, from the assets of the Variable Account are, in accordance with the
Contracts, credited to or charged against the Variable Account without regard to
other income, gains, or losses of the Company.

       Purchase Payments are allocated within the Variable Account among one or
more Sub-Accounts made up of shares in the underlying Mutual Fund(s) designated
by the Contract Owner. A separate Sub-Account is established within the Variable
Account for each of the underlying Mutual Fund options that may be designated by
the Contract Owner.

UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND OPTIONS

       Contract Owners may choose from among a number of different Sub-Account
options. A summary of investment objectives is contained in the descriptions of
each underlying Mutual Fund below.

FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY FUND

   
       The Fund is an open-end, diversified, management investment company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust on July 15, 1994. The Fund shares
are purchased by insurance companies to fund benefits under variable life
insurance and annuity contracts. Fidelity Management Research Company ("FMR") is
the Fund's manager.
    

       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT FUND

   
       Investment Objective: Seeks a high level of current income by investing
       primarily in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or
       any of its agencies or instrumentalities. Under normal circumstances, at
       least 65% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in government
       securities.
    

       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND

   
       Investment Objective: Seeks to provide capital growth by investing
       primarily in common stocks and securities convertible into common stocks.
       Under normal circumstances, at least 65% of the Fund's total assets will
       be invested in securities of companies that FMR believes have long-term
       growth potential. Growth can be considered either appreciation of the
       security itself or growth of the company's earnings or gross sales.
       Accordingly, these securities will pay little, if any, income, which will
       be entirely incidental to the objective of capital growth.
    

       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY HIGH YIELD FUND

       Investment Objective: Seeks a combination of a high level of income and
       the potential for capital gains by investing in a diversified portfolio
       consisting primarily of high-yielding, fixed income and zero coupon
       securities, such as bonds, debentures and notes, convertible securities
       and preferred stocks.

   
       The Fund normally will invest at least 65% of its total assets in
       high-yielding, income producing debt securities and preferred stocks,
       including convertible and zero coupon securities. The Fund may invest all
       or a substantial portion of its assets in lower-quality debt securities
       (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). This is an aggressive approach to
       income investing.
    


                                       10

                                    12 of 96
<PAGE>   13
       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY INCOME & GROWTH FUND

       Investment Objective: Seeks both income and growth of capital by
       investing in a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income
       securities with income, growth of income and capital appreciation
       potential.

   
       The Fund will invest in equity securities, convertible securities,
       preferred and common stocks paying any combination of dividends and
       capital gains and in fixed-income securities. The Fund also may buy
       securities that are not paying dividends but offer prospects for growth
       of capital or future income. The proportion of the Fund's assets invested
       in each type of security will vary from time to time in accordance with
       FMR's assessment of economic conditions.
    

       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY MONEY MARKET FUND

   
       Investment Objective: Seeks to obtain as high a level of current income
       as is consistent with preserving capital and providing liquidity. The
       Fund will invest only in high quality U.S. dollar-denominated money
       market securities of domestic and foreign issuers.
    

       FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY OVERSEAS FUND

   
       Investment Objective: Seeks growth of capital primarily through
       investments in foreign securities. The Fund defines foreign securities as
       securities of issuers whose principal activities are outside the United
       States. Normally, at least 65% of the Funds' total assets will be
       invested in securities of issuers from at least three different countries
       outside of North America (the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central
       America).
    

       More detailed information may be found in the current prospectus for each
underlying Mutual Fund offered. Such a prospectus for the underlying Mutual Fund
being considered must accompany this prospectus and should be read in
conjunction herewith. A copy of each prospectus may be obtained without charge
from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by calling 1-800-573-5775, Voice Response
(available 24 hours) 1-800- 573-2447, TDD 1-800-238-3035 or writing P.O. Box
182610, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2610.

       The underlying Mutual Fund options may also be available to other
separate accounts of the Company. Although the Company does not anticipate any
disadvantages to this, there is a possibility that a material conflict may arise
between the interest of the Variable Account and one or more of the other
separate accounts participating in the underlying Mutual Fund options. A
conflict may occur due to a change in law affecting the operations of variable
life and variable annuity separate accounts, differences in the voting
instructions of the Contract Owners and those of other companies, or some other
reason. In the event of conflict, the Company will take any steps necessary to
protect the Contract Owners and variable annuity payees, including withdrawal of
the Variable Account from participation in the underlying Mutual Fund or Mutual
Funds which are involved in the conflict.

VOTING RIGHTS

       Voting rights under the Contracts apply ONLY with respect to Purchase
Payments or accumulated amounts allocated to 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
Contract 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 person having the voting interest under a Contract shall be the
Contract Owner. The number of underlying Mutual Fund shares attributable to each
Contract Owner is determined by dividing the Contract 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. Voting instructions will be
solicited by written communication at least 21 days prior to such meeting.


                                       11

                                    13 of 96
<PAGE>   14
       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.

       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.

        VARIABLE ACCOUNT CHARGES, PURCHASE PAYMENTS, AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS

MORTALITY RISK CHARGE

   
       The Company assumes a "mortality risk" by virtue of annuity rates
incorporated into the Contract which cannot be changed regardless of the death
rates of persons receiving annuity payments or of the general population.
    

       For assuming this mortality risk, the Company deducts a Mortality Risk
Charge from the Variable Account. This amount is computed on a daily basis and
is equal to an annual rate of 0.80% of the daily net asset value of the Variable
Account. The Company expects to generate a profit through assessing this charge.

EXPENSE RISK CHARGE

       The Company will not increase charges for administration of the Contracts
regardless of its actual expenses. For assuming this expense risk, the Company
deducts an Expense Risk Charge from the Variable Account. This amount is
computed on a daily basis and is equal to an annual rate of 0.45% of the daily
net asset value of the Variable Account. The Company expects to generate a
profit through assessing this charge.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

   
       No deduction for a sales charge is made from the Purchase Payments for
these Contracts. However, if any part of the Contract Value of such Contracts is
surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct a Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge not to exceed 7% of the lesser of the total of all
Purchase Payments made within 84 months prior to the date of the request to
surrender, or the amount surrendered. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, when
it is applicable, will be used to cover expenses relating to the sale of the
Contracts, including commissions paid to sales personnel, the costs of
preparation of sales literature and other promotional activity. The Company
attempts to recover its distribution costs relating to the sale of the Contracts
from the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Any shortfall will be made up from
the general account of the Company, which may indirectly include portions of the
Mortality and Expense Risk Charges, since the Company expects to generate a
profit from these charges. The maximum amount that may be paid to a selling
agent on the sale of these Contracts is 6.25% of Purchase Payments.

       The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is calculated by multiplying the
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge percentages noted below by the
Purchase Payments that are surrendered. For purposes of calculating the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, surrenders are considered to come first from
the oldest Purchase Payment made to the Contract, then the next oldest Purchase
Payment and so forth, with any earnings attributable to such Purchase Payments
considered only after all Purchase Payments made to the Contract have been
considered. For tax purposes, a surrender is usually treated as a withdrawal of
earnings first. This charge will apply in the amounts set forth below to
Purchase Payments within the time periods set forth.
    

       The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies to Purchase Payments as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     NUMBER OF COMPLETED          Contingent Deferred           Number of Completed           Contingent Deferred
     Years from Date of               Sales Charge               Years from Date of               Sales Charge
      Purchase Payment                 Percentage                 Purchase Payment                 Percentage

     <S>                          <C>                           <C>                           <C>      
              0                            7%                            4                             3%
              1                            6%                            5                             2%
              2                            5%                            6                             1%
              3                            4%                            7                             0%
</TABLE>


                                       12

                                    14 of 96
<PAGE>   15
   
       In any Contract Year, the Contract Owner may withdraw without a
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) an amount equal to 10% of the total sum
of all Purchase Payments made to the Contract at the time of withdrawal, less
amounts previously withdrawn in the same Contract Year under the same 10% free
withdrawal provision. In addition, any amount withdrawn in order to meet minimum
Distribution requirements under the Code shall be free of CDSC. This CDSC-free
withdrawal privilege is non-cumulative; free amounts not taken during any given
Contract Year cannot be taken as free amounts in a subsequent Contract Year. The
Contract Owner may be subject to a tax penalty if the Contract Owner takes
withdrawals prior to age 59-1/2 (see "Non- Qualified Contracts").

       In addition, no Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will be deducted: (1)
upon the Annuitization of Contracts which have been in force for at least two
years, (2) upon payment of a death benefit pursuant to the death of the
Designated Annuitant, or (3) from any values which have been held under a
Contract for at least 84 months. No Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies
upon the transfer of value among the Sub-Accounts or between the Fixed Account
and the Variable Account and vice-versa.

       When a Contract is held by a Charitable Remainder Trust, the amount which
may be withdrawn from this Contract without application of a Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge, shall be the larger of (a) or (b), where (a) is:

       The amount which would otherwise be available for withdrawal without
       application of a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge;

and where (b) is:

       The difference between the total Purchase Payments made to the Contract
       as of the date of the withdrawal (reduced by previous withdrawals of such
       Purchase Payments), and the Contract Value at the close of the day prior
       to the date of the withdrawal.

         When a Contract described in this prospectus is exchanged for another
Contract issued by the Company or any of its affiliated insurance companies, of
the type and class which the Company determined is eligible for such exchange,
the Company will waive the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on the first
Contract. A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply to the contract received
in the exchange.

ADMINISTRATION CHARGE

       The Company assesses an Administration Charge equal on an annual basis to
0.15% of the daily net asset value of the Variable Account. The Administration
Charge is designed only to reimburse the Company for administrative expenses
related to the issuance and maintenance of the Contract. The Company will
monitor this charge to ensure that it does not exceed annual administration
expenses.

PREMIUM TAXES

       The Company will charge against the Contract Value the amount of any
premium taxes levied by a state or any other governmental entity upon Purchase
Payments received by the Company. Premium taxes currently imposed by certain
jurisdictions range from 0% to 3.5%. This range is subject to change. The method
used to recoup premium tax expense will be determined by the Company at its sole
discretion and in compliance with applicable state law. The Company currently
deducts such charges from a Contract Owner's Contract Value either: (1) at the
time the Contract is surrendered, (2) at Annuitization, or (3) at such earlier
date as the Company may become subject to such taxes.

EXPENSES OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT

       The Variable Account is responsible for the following types of expenses:
(1) administrative expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contracts; (2) the mortality risk charges associated with guaranteeing the
annuity purchase rates at issue for the life of the Contracts; and (3) charges
associated with guaranteeing that the Mortality Risk, Expense Risk, Contract
Maintenance and Administration Charges described in this prospectus will not be
changed regardless of actual expenses. If these charges are insufficient to
cover these expenses, the loss will be borne by the Company.

       For 1995, the Variable Account incurred total expenses equal to 0.90% of
its average net assets, relating to the administrative, sales, mortality and
expense risk charges described above for all Contracts outstanding during that
year. Deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of the underlying
Mutual Funds are described in each underlying Mutual Fund's prospectus.
    


                                       13

                                    15 of 96
<PAGE>   16
INVESTMENTS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

   
       At the time of purchase each Contract Owner elects to have Purchase
Payments attributable to his or her participation in the Variable Account
allocated among one or more of the Sub-Accounts which consist of shares in the
underlying Mutual Funds. Shares of the respective underlying Mutual Funds
specified by the Contract Owner are purchased at net asset value for the
respective Sub-Account(s) and converted into Accumulation Units. At the time of
purchase, the Contract Owner designates the underlying Mutual Funds to which he
or she desires to have Purchase Payments allocated. The Contract Owner may
change the election as to allocation of Purchase Payments or may elect to
exchange amounts among the Sub-Account options pursuant to such terms and
conditions applicable to such transactions as may be imposed by each of the
underlying Mutual Funds, in addition to those set forth in the Contracts.
    

RIGHT TO REVOKE

       The Contract Owner may revoke the Contract at any time between the Date
of Issue and the date 10 days after receipt of the Contract and receive a refund
of the Contract Value unless otherwise required by state and/or federal law. All
Individual Retirement Annuity refunds will be a return of Purchase Payments. In
order to revoke the Contract, it must be mailed or delivered to the Home Office
of the Company at the mailing address shown on page 1 of this prospectus.
Mailing or delivery must occur on or before 10 days after receipt of the
Contract for revocation to be effective. In order to revoke the Contract, if it
has not been received, written notice must be mailed or delivered to the Home
Office of the Company at the mailing address shown on page 1 of this prospectus.

   
       The liability of the Variable Account under this provision is limited to
the Contract Value in each Sub-Account on the date of revocation. Any
additional amounts refunded to the Contract Owner will be paid by the Company.
    

TRANSFERS

   

       The Company currently allows transfers up to 100% of the Variable Account
Contract Value from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account, without penalty
or adjustment. However, the Company reserves the right to restrict transfers
from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account to 10% of the Variable Account
Contract Value for any 12 month period. All amounts transferred to the Fixed
Account must remain on deposit in the Fixed Account until the expiration of the
Interest Rate Guarantee Period. Transfers from the Fixed Account may not be made
prior to the end of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period. The
Interest Rate Guarantee Period for any amount allocated to the Fixed Account
expires on the final day of a calendar quarter during which the one year
anniversary of the allocation of the Fixed Account occurs. Transfers must also
be made prior to the Annuitization Date. For all transfers involving the
Variable Account, the Contract Owner's 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 Company reserves the right to refuse transfers or Purchase
Payments into the Fixed Account if the Fixed Account is greater than or equal to
30% of the Contract Value.

       The Contract Owner may at the maturity of an Interest Rate Guarantee
Period, transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed Account to the Variable
Account. The amount that may be transferred from the Fixed Account to the
Variable Account will be determined by the Company, at its sole discretion, but
will not be less than 10% of the total value of the portion of the Fixed Account
that is maturing. The amount that may be transferred from the Fixed Account will
be declared upon the expiration date of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee
Period. Transfers from the Fixed Account must be made within 45 days after the
expiration date of the Interest Rate Guarantee Period. Contract 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.

       Transfers may be made either in writing or, in states allowing such
transfers, by telephone. This telephone exchange privilege is made available to
Contract Owners automatically without the Owner's election. The Company will
employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include any or all of the following,
or such other procedures as the Company may, from time to time, deem reasonable:
requesting identifying information, such as name, contract number, Social
Security Number, and/or personal identification number; tape recording all
telephone transactions, and providing written confirmation thereof to both the
Contract Owner and any agent of record, at the last address of record. 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 

    


                                       14

                                    16 of 96
<PAGE>   17
reliance on telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine shall be
borne by the Contract Owner. The Company may withdraw the telephone exchange
privilege upon 30 days' written notice to Contract Owners.

ASSIGNMENT

   
       Where permitted, the Contract Owner may assign some or all of the rights
under the Contract at any time during the lifetime of the Designated Annuitant
prior to the Annuitization Date. Such assignment will take effect upon receipt
and recording by the Company at its Home Office of a written notice executed by
the Contract Owner. The Company assumes no responsibility for the validity or
tax consequences of any assignment. The Company shall not be liable as to any
payment or other settlement made by the Company before recording of the
assignment. Where necessary for the proper administration of the terms of the
Contract, an assignment will not be recorded until the Company has received
sufficient direction from the Contract Owner and assignee as to the proper
allocation of Contract rights under the assignment.

       Any portion of Contract Value which is pledged or assigned shall be
treated as a Distribution and shall be included in gross income to the extent
that the cash value exceeds the investment in the Contract for the taxable year
in which assigned or pledged. In addition, any Contract Values assigned may,
under certain conditions, be subject to a tax penalty equal to 10% of the amount
which is included in gross income. All rights in this Contract are personal to
the Contract Owner and may not be assigned without written consent of the
Company. Assignment of the entire Contract Value may cause the portion of the
Contract Value which exceeds the total investment in the Contract and previously
taxed amounts to be included in gross income for federal income tax purposes
each year that the assignment is in effect. Individual Retirement Annuities and
Tax Sheltered Annuities are not eligible for assignment.

LOAN PRIVILEGE

       Prior to the Annuitization Date, the Owner of a Tax Sheltered Annuity
Contract may receive a loan from the Contract Value subject to the terms of the
Contract, the Plan, and the Code, which may impose restrictions on loans.
    

       Loans from Tax Sheltered Annuities are available beginning 30 days after
the Date of Issue. The Contract Owner may borrow a minimum of $1,000. In
non-ERISA plans, for Contract Values up to $20,000, the maximum loan balance
which may be outstanding at any time is 80% of the Contract Value, but not more
than $10,000. If the Contract Value is $20,000 or more, the maximum loan balance
which may be outstanding at any time is 50% of the Contract Value, but not more
than $50,000. For ERISA plans, the maximum loan balance which may be outstanding
at any time is 50% of the Contract Value, but not more than $50,000. The $50,000
limit will be reduced by the highest loan balances owed during the prior
one-year period. Additional loans are subject to the contract minimum amount.
The aggregate of all loans may not exceed the Contract Value limitations stated
above.

       For salary reduction Tax Sheltered Annuities, loans may only be secured
by the Contract Value. For loans from Qualified Contracts and other Tax
Sheltered Annuities, the Company reserves the right to limit a loan to 50% of
the Contract Value subject to the acceptance by the Contract Owner of the
Company's loan agreement. Where permitted, the Company may require other named
collateral where the loan from a Contract exceeds 50% of the Contract Value.

       All loans are made from a collateral fixed account. An amount equal to
the principal amount of the loan will be transferred to the collateral fixed
account. Unless instructed to the contrary by the Contract Owner, the Company
will first transfer to the collateral fixed account the Variable Account units
from the Contract Owner's investment options in proportion to the assets in each
option until the required balance is reached or all such variable units are
exhausted. The remaining required collateral will next be transferred from the
Fixed Account. No withdrawal charges are deducted at the time of the loan, or on
the transfer from the Variable Account to the collateral fixed account.

       Until the loan has been repaid in full, that portion of the collateral
fixed account equal to the outstanding loan balance shall be credited with
interest at a rate 2.25% less than the loan interest rate fixed by the Company
for the term of the loan. However, the interest rate credited to the collateral
fixed account will never be less than 3.0%. Specific loan terms are disclosed at
the time of loan application or loan issuance.


                                       15

                                    17 of 96
<PAGE>   18
       Loans must be repaid in substantially level payments, not less frequently
than quarterly, within five years. Loans used to purchase the principal
residence of the Contract Owner must be repaid within 15 years. During the loan
term, the outstanding balance of the loan will continue to earn interest at an
annual rate as specified in the loan agreement. Loan repayments will consist of
principal and interest in amounts set forth in the loan agreement. Loan
repayments will be allocated between the Fixed and Variable Accounts in the same
proportion as when the loan was made.

       If the Contract is surrendered while the loan is outstanding, the
surrender value will be reduced by the amount of the loan outstanding plus
accrued interest. If the Contract Owner/Annuitant dies while the loan is
outstanding, the Death Benefit will be reduced by the amount of the loan
outstanding plus accrued interest. If annuity payments start while the loan is
outstanding, the Contract Value will be reduced by the amount of the outstanding
loan plus accrued interest. Until the loan is repaid, the Company reserves the
right to restrict any transfer of the Contract which would otherwise qualify as
a transfer as permitted in the Code.

   
       If a loan payment is not made when due, interest will continue to accrue.
A grace period may be available under the terms of the loan agreement. If a loan
payment is not made when due, or by the end of the applicable grace period, then
that payment, which may be a single periodic payment or payment of the entire
loan, will be treated as a deemed Distribution, as permitted by law, may be
taxable to the borrower, and may be subject to the early withdrawal tax penalty.
Interest which subsequently accrues on defaulted amounts may also be treated as
additional deemed Distributions each year. Any defaulted amounts, plus accrued
interest, will be deducted from the Contract when the participant becomes
eligible for a Distribution of at least that amount, and this amount may again
be treated as a Distribution where required by law. Additional loans may not be
available while a previous loan remains in default.

       Loans may also be subject to additional limitations or restrictions under
the terms of the employer's plan. Loans permitted under this Contract may still
be taxable in whole or part if the participant has additional loans from other
plans or contracts. The Company will calculate the maximum nontaxable loan based
on the information provided by the participant or the employer.

       Loan repayments must be identified as such or else they will be treated
as Purchase Payments and will not be used to reduce the outstanding loan
principal or interest due. The Company reserves the right to modify the term or
procedures associated with the loan in the event of a change in the laws or
regulations relating to the treatment of loans. The Company also reserves the
right to assess a loan processing fee. Individual Retirement Annuities and
Non-Qualified Contracts are not eligible for loans.

OWNERSHIP PROVISIONS

       Unless otherwise provided, the Contract Owner has all rights under the
Contract. IF THE PURCHASER NAMES SOMEONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS OWNER,
THE PURCHASER WILL HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT. If a Joint Owner is named,
the Joint Owner will possess an undivided interest in the Contract. Prior to the
Annuitization Date, a surviving Joint Owner shall retain sole rights in the
Contract upon the other Joint Owner's death if the deceased Joint Owner was not
also the Designated Annuitant. If the deceased Joint Owner was also the
Designated Annuitant, disposition of the Contract will be determined based on
the "Death of Designated Annuitant Prior to the Annuitization Date" provision.
Unless otherwise provided, when Joint Owners are named, the exercise of any
ownership right in the Contract (including the right to surrender or partially
surrender the Contract, to change the Contract Owner, the Contingent Owner, the
Designated Annuitant, the Contingent Designated Annuitant, the Beneficiary, the
Contingent Beneficiary, the Annuity Payment Option or the Annuity Commencement
Date) shall require a written indication of an intent to exercise that right,
signed by both Contract Owners. Joint Owners must be spouses at the time joint
ownership is requested.

       If a Contract Owner dies prior to the Annuitization Date and the Contract
Owner and the Designated Annuitant are not the same person, Contract ownership
will be determined in accordance with the "Death of Contract Owner" provision.
If the Designated Annuitant (regardless of whether the Designated Annuitant is
also the Contract Owner) dies prior to the Annuitization Date, ownership will be
determined in accordance with the "Death of Designated Annuitant Prior to the
Annuitization Date" provision.
    

       Prior to the Annuitization Date, the Contract Owner may name a new
Contract Owner. Such change may be subject to state and federal gift taxes, and
may also result in current federal income taxation (see "Taxes"). Any change of
Contract Owner will automatically revoke any prior Contract Owner designation.
Any request for change of Contract Owner must be (1) made by proper written
application, (2) received and recorded by the Company at its Home Office, and
(3) may include a signature guarantee as specified in the "Surrender"


                                       16

                                    18 of 96
<PAGE>   19
provision. The change will become effective as of the date the written request
is signed. A new choice of Contract Owner will not apply to any payment made or
action taken by the Company prior to the time it was received and recorded.

   
       The Contract Owner may request a change in the Designated Annuitant or
Contingent Designated Annuitant before the Annuitization Date. Such a request
must be made in writing on a form acceptable to the Company and must be signed
by the Contract Owner and the person to be named as Designated Annuitant or
Contingent Designated Annuitant. Any such change is subject to underwriting and
approval by the Company.

CONTINGENT OWNER AND BENEFICIARY PROVISIONS

       The Contingent Owner is the person (or persons) who may receive certain
benefits under the Contract if the Contract Owner dies before the Annuitization
Date. If more than one Contingent Owner survives the Contract Owner, each will
share equally unless otherwise specified in the Contingent Owner designation. If
a Contingent Owner is not named or predeceases the Contract Owner, all rights
and interest of the Contingent Owner will vest in the Contract Owner's estate.
Subject to the terms of any existing assignment, the Contract Owner may change
the Contingent Owner from time to time prior to the Annuitization Date by
written notice to the Company. The change, upon receipt and recording by the
Company at its Home Office, will take effect as of the time the written notice
was signed, whether or not the Contract Owner is living at the time of
recording, but without further liability as to any payment or settlement made by
the Company before receipt of such change. Unless the Contingent Owner (or Joint
Owner) is also the named Beneficiary (or Contingent Beneficiary, if applicable),
the Contingent Owner (or Joint Owner) shall have no rights in the Contract if
the Contract Owner/Annuitant dies. If a Contract Owner/Annuitant dies,
disposition of the Contract shall be determined based on the "Death of
Designated Annuitant Prior to the Annuitization Date" provision.

       The Beneficiary is the person or persons who may receive certain benefits
under the Contract in the event the Designated Annuitant dies prior to the
Annuitization Date. If more than one Beneficiary survives the Designated
Annuitant, each will share equally unless otherwise specified in the Beneficiary
designation. If no Beneficiary survives the Designated Annuitant, all rights and
interest of the Beneficiary shall vest in the Contingent Beneficiary, and if
more than one Contingent Beneficiary survives, each will share equally unless
otherwise specified in the Contingent Beneficiary designation. If a Contingent
Beneficiary is not named or predeceases the Designated Annuitant, all rights and
interest of the Contingent Beneficiary will vest with the Contract Owner or the
Contract Owner's estate. Subject to the terms of any existing assignment, the
Contract Owner may change the Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary from time to
time during the lifetime of the Designated Annuitant, by written notice to the
Company. The change, upon receipt by the Company at its Home Office, will take
effect as of the time the written notice was signed, whether or not the
Designated Annuitant is living at the time of recording, but without further
liability as to any payment or settlement made by the Company before receipt of
such change.

SUBSTITUTION OF SECURITIES

       If the shares of the underlying Mutual Funds described in this prospectus
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 Fund shares 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 Purchase Payments under the Contract. 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 may
impose.
    

CONTRACT OWNER INQUIRIES

       Contract Owner inquiries may be directed to Nationwide Life Insurance
Company by writing P.O. Box 182610, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2610, or calling
1-800-573-5775, Voice Response (available 24 hours) 1-800- 573-2447, TDD
1-800-238-3035.

                     ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD-VARIABLE ACCOUNT

   
       At the Annuitization Date the Variable Account Contract Value is applied
to the Annuity Payment Option elected and the amount of the first such payment
made shall be determined in accordance with the Annuity Table in the Contract.
    


                                       17

                                    19 of 96
<PAGE>   20
       Subsequent Variable Annuity payments vary in amount in accordance with
the investment performance of the Variable Account. The dollar amount of the
first annuity payment determined as above is divided by the value of an Annuity
Unit as of the Annuitization Date to establish the number of Annuity Units
representing each monthly annuity payment. This number of Annuity Units remains
fixed during the annuity payment period. The dollar amount of the second and
subsequent payments is not predetermined and may change from month to month. The
dollar amount of each subsequent payment is determined by multiplying the fixed
number of Annuity Units by the Annuity Unit Value for the Valuation Period in
which the payment is due. The Company guarantees that the dollar amount of each
payment after the first will not be affected by variations in mortality
experience from mortality assumptions used to determine the first payment.

VALUE OF AN ANNUITY UNIT

       The value of an Annuity Unit was arbitrarily set initially at $10 when
the first underlying Mutual Fund shares were purchased. The value of an Annuity
Unit for a Sub-Account for any subsequent Valuation Period is determined by
multiplying the Annuity Unit Value for the immediately preceding Valuation
Period by the Net Investment Factor for the Valuation Period for which the
Annuity Unit Value is being calculated, and multiplying the result by an
interest factor to neutralize the assumed investment rate of 3.5% per annum (see
"Net Investment Factor").

ASSUMED INVESTMENT RATE

       A 3.5% Assumed Investment Rate is built into the Annuity Tables contained
in the Contracts. A higher assumption would mean a higher initial payment but
more slowly rising or more rapidly falling subsequent payments. A lower
assumption would have the opposite effect. If the actual investment rate is at
the annual rate of 3.5%, the annuity payments will be level.

FREQUENCY AND AMOUNT OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS

   
       Annuity payments will be paid as monthly installments. However, if the
net amount available to apply under any Annuity Payment Option is less than
$5,000, the Company shall have the right to pay such amount in one lump sum in
lieu of the payments otherwise provided for. In addition, if the payments
provided for would be or become less than $50, the Company shall have the right
to change the frequency of payments to such intervals as will result in payments
of at least $50. In no event will the Company make payments under an annuity
option less frequently than annually.

ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

       The Contract Owner selects an Annuity Commencement Date at the time of
application. Such date may be the first day of a calendar month or any other
agreed upon date and must be at least 2 years after the Date of Issue. In the
event the Contract is issued subject to the terms of a Tax Sheltered Annuity
Plan, Annuitization may occur during the first two years subject to approval by
the Company.

CHANGE IN ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

       The Contract Owner may, upon prior written notice to the Company, change
the Annuity Commencement Date. The date to which such a change may be made shall
be the first day of a calendar month.

       If the Contract Owner requests in writing (see "Ownership Provisions"),
and the Company approves the request, the Annuity Commencement Date may be
deferred. The amount of the Death Benefit will be limited to the Contract Value
if the Annuity Commencement Date is postponed beyond the first day of the
calendar month after the Annuitant's 86th birthday.
    

CHANGE IN FORM OF ANNUITY

       The Contract Owner may, upon prior written notice to the Company, at any
time prior to the Annuitization Date, elect one of the Annuity Payment Options.

ANNUITY PAYMENT OPTIONS

     Any of the following Annuity Payment Options may be elected:

     Option 1-Life Annuity-An annuity payable monthly during the lifetime of the
     Annuitant, ceasing with the last payment due prior to the death of the
     Annuitant. IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE UNDER THIS OPTION FOR THE ANNUITANT TO
     RECEIVE ONLY ONE ANNUITY PAYMENT IF HE OR SHE DIED BEFORE THE 


                                       18

                                    20 of 96
<PAGE>   21
     SECOND ANNUITY PAYMENT DATE, TWO ANNUITY PAYMENTS IF HE OR SHE DIED BEFORE
     THE THIRD ANNUITY PAYMENT DATE, AND SO ON.

     Option 2-Joint and Last Survivor Annuity-An annuity payable monthly during
     the joint lifetimes of the Annuitant and designated second person and
     continuing thereafter during the lifetime of the survivor. AS IS THE CASE
     UNDER OPTION 1 ABOVE, THERE IS NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAYMENTS GUARANTEED
     UNDER THIS OPTION. PAYMENTS CEASE UPON THE DEATH OF THE LAST SURVIVING
     ANNUITANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS RECEIVED.

     Option 3-Life Annuity With 120 or 240 Monthly Payments Guaranteed-An
     annuity payable monthly during the lifetime of the Annuitant with the
     guarantee that if at the death of the Annuitant payments have been made for
     fewer than 120 or 240 months, as selected, payments will be made as
     follows:

     (1) If the Annuitant is the payee, any guaranteed annuity payments will be
         continued during the remainder of the selected period to such recipient
         as chosen by the Annuitant at the time the Annuity Payment Option was
         selected. In the alternative, the recipient may, at any time, elect to
         have the present value of the guaranteed number of annuity payments
         remaining paid in a lump sum as specified in section (2) below.

     (2) If someone other than the Annuitant is the payee, the present value,
         computed as of the date on which notice of death is received by the
         Company at its Home Office, of the guaranteed number of annuity
         payments remaining after receipt of such notice and to which the
         deceased would have been entitled had he or she not died, computed at
         the Assumed Investment Rate effective in determining the Annuity
         Tables, shall be paid in a lump sum.

       Some of the stated Annuity Options may not be available in all states.
The Contract Owner may request an alternative non-guaranteed option by giving
notice in writing prior to Annuitization. If such a request is approved by the
Company, it will be permitted under the Contract.

   
       If the Owner fails to elect an Annuity Payment Option, the Contract Value
will continue to accumulate. Individual Retirement Annuities and Tax Sheltered
Annuities are subject to the minimum Distribution requirements set forth in the
Code.

DEATH OF CONTRACT OWNER

       If the Contract Owner and the Designated Annuitant are not the same
person and the Contract Owner dies prior to the Annuitization Date, then the
Joint Owner, if any, becomes the new Contract Owner. If no Joint Owner is named
(or if the Joint Owner predeceases the Contract Owner), then the Contingent
Owner becomes the new Contract Owner. If no Contingent Owner is named (or if the
Contingent Owner predeceases the Contract Owner), then the Contract Owner's
estate becomes the Contract Owner. Unless the new Contract Owner is the prior
Contract Owner's spouse, the entire interest in the Contract, less applicable
deductions (which may include a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge), must be
distributed within five years of the prior Contract Owner's death. The new
Contract Owner may elect to receive Distribution in the form of a life annuity
or an annuity for a period not exceeding his or her life expectancy. Such
annuity must begin within one year following the date of the prior Contract
Owner's death. If the new Contract Owner is the spouse of the prior Contract
Owner, then the Contract may be continued without any required Distribution.

       If the Designated Annuitant (regardless of whether the Designated
Annuitant is also the Contract Owner) dies prior to the Annuitization Date, a
Death Benefit will be payable in accordance with the "Death of Designated
Annuitant Prior to the Annuitization Date" provision below, provided however,
that all Distributions made as a result of the death of the Contract Owner shall
be made within the time limits set forth in this provision. If a Contract
Owner/Annuitant dies prior to the Annuitization Date, and the Beneficiary is the
Contract Owner/Annuitant's spouse, such spouse may elect to continue the
Contract as the Contract Owner and Annuitant.
    

       Individual Retirement Annuities or Tax Sheltered Annuities will be
subject to specific rules set forth in the Plan, Contract, or Code concerning
Distributions upon the death of the Contract Owner.

DEATH OF DESIGNATED ANNUITANT PRIOR TO THE ANNUITIZATION DATE

   
       If the Designated Annuitant dies prior to the Annuitization Date, a Death
Benefit is payable unless the Contract Owner has also named a Contingent
Designated Annuitant, in which case the Death Benefit is payable upon the death
of the last survivor of the Designated Annuitant and Contingent Designated
Annuitant. The Death Benefit is payable to the Beneficiary. If no Beneficiary is
named (or if the Beneficiary predeceases the 
    


                                       19

                                    21 of 96
<PAGE>   22
   
Designated Annuitant), then the Death Benefit is payable to the Contingent
Beneficiary. If no Contingent Beneficiary is named (or if the Contingent
Beneficiary predeceases the Designated Annuitant), then the Death Benefit will
be paid to Contract Owner or the Contract Owner's estate.

       The value of the Death Benefit will be determined as of the Valuation
Date coincident with or next following the date the Company receives in writing
(1) due proof of the Designated Annuitant's death; (2) an election for either a
single sum payment or an Annuity Payment Option; and (3) any form required by
state insurance laws. If a single sum payment is requested, payment will be made
in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations governing the payment of
Death Benefits. If an Annuity Payment Option is requested, election must be made
by the Beneficiary during the 90-day period commencing with the date written
notice is received by the Company. If no election has been made by the end of
such 90-day period commencing with the date written notice is received by the
Company, the Death Benefit will be paid in a single sum payment. If the
Designated Annuitant dies prior to his or her 86th birthday, the value of the
Death Benefit will be the greater of (1) the sum of all Purchase Payments, made
to the Contract less any amounts surrendered, (2) the Contract Value, or (3) the
Contract Value as of the most recent five-year Contract Anniversary, less any
amounts surrendered since the most recent five-year Contract Anniversary. If the
Designated Annuitant dies on or after his or her 86th birthday, then the Death
Benefit will be equal to the Contract Value.

       If the Contract Owner is not a natural person, the death of the
Designated Annuitant (or a change of the Designated Annuitant) will be treated
like a death of the Contract Owner and will result in a Distribution of either:

     (a) the Death Benefit described above (if there is no Contingent Designated
         Annuitant and the Designated Annuitant has died), or in all other cases

     (b) a Distribution to the Contract Owner if the Designated Annuitant has
         been changed,
    

provided that any such Distribution must be made within the time period
specified in the "Death of Contract Owner" provision.

DEATH OF ANNUITANT AFTER THE ANNUITIZATION DATE

       If the Annuitant dies after the Annuitization Date, any benefit that may
be payable shall be as specified in the Annuity Payment Option selected.

REQUIRED DISTRIBUTION FOR TAX SHELTERED ANNUITIES

       The entire interest of an Annuitant under a Tax Sheltered Annuity
Contract will be distributed in a manner consistent with the Minimum
Distribution and Incidental Benefit (MDIB) provisions of Section 401(a)(9) of
the Code and regulations thereunder, as applicable, and will be paid,
notwithstanding anything else contained herein, to the Contract Owner/Annuitant
under the Annuity Payments Option selected, over a period not exceeding:

     (a) the life of the Contract Owner/Annuitant or the lives of the Contract
         Owner/Annuitant and the Contract Owner/Annuitant's designated
         Beneficiary; or

     (b) a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Contract
         Owner/Annuitant or the life expectancy of the Contract Owner/Annuitant
         and the Contract Owner/Annuitant's designated Beneficiary.

   
       If the Contract Owner/Annuitant's entire interest is to be distributed in
equal or substantially equal payments over a period described in A or B, such
payments will commence not later than the first day of April following the
calendar year in which the Contract Owner/Annuitant attains age 70-1/2 (the
required beginning date). In the case of a governmental plan (as defined in Code
Section 414(d)), or church plan (as defined in Code Section 401(a)(9)(C)), the
Required Beginning Date will be the later of the dates determined under the
preceding sentence or April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year
in which the Annuitant retires.
    

       If the Contract Owner dies prior to the commencement of his or her
Distribution, the interest in the Tax Sheltered Annuity must be distributed by
December 31 of the calendar year in which the fifth anniversary of his or her
death occurs unless:


                                       20

                                    22 of 96
<PAGE>   23
(a)    In the case of a Tax Sheltered Annuity, the Contract Owner names his or
       her surviving spouse as the Beneficiary and such spouse elects to:

        (i)  treat the annuity as a Tax Sheltered Annuity established for his or
             her benefit; or

        (ii) receive Distribution of the account in nearly equal payments over
             his or her life (or a period not exceeding his or her life
             expectancy) and commencing not later than December 31 of the year
             in which the Contract Owner would have attained age 70-1/2; or

(b)    In the case of a Tax Sheltered Annuity, the Contract Owner names a
       Beneficiary other than his or her surviving spouse and such Beneficiary
       elects to receive a Distribution of the account in nearly equal payments
       over his or her life (or a period not exceeding his or her life
       expectancy) commencing not later than December 31 of the year following
       the year in which the Contract Owner dies.

   

       If the Contract Owner/Annuitant dies after Distribution has commenced,
Distribution must continue at least as rapidly as under the schedule being used
prior to his or her death.

    

   
       Payments commencing on the Required Beginning Date will not be less than
the lesser of the quotient obtained by dividing the entire interest of the
Contract Owner/Annuitant by the life expectancy of the Contract Owner/Annuitant,
or the joint and last survivor expectancy of the Contract Owner/Annuitant and
the Contract Owner/Annuitant's designated Beneficiary (whichever is applicable
under the applicable Minimum Distribution or MDIB provisions). Life expectancy
and joint and last survivor expectancy are computed by the use of return
multiples contained in Section 1.72-9 of the Treasury Regulations.
    

REQUIRED DISTRIBUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

   
       Distribution from an Individual Retirement Annuity must begin not later
than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Contract Owner attains age 70-1/2. Distribution may be accepted in a lump sum or
in nearly equal payments over: (a) the Contract Owner's life or the lives of the
Contract Owner and the Contract Owner's spouse or designated Beneficiary, or (b)
a period not extending beyond the Contract Owner and the Contract Owner's spouse
or designated Beneficiary.
    

       If the Contract Owner dies prior to the commencement of the Distribution,
the interest in the Individual Retirement Annuity must be distributed by
December 31 of the calendar year in which the fifth anniversary of the Contract
Owner's death occurs unless:

(a)    The Contract Owner has named his or her surviving spouse as the
       designated Beneficiary and such spouse elects to:

        (i)  treat the annuity as an Individual Retirement Annuity established
             for his or her benefit; or

        (ii) receive Distribution of the account in nearly equal payments over
             his or her life (or a period not exceeding his or her life
             expectancy) and commencing not later than December 31 of the year
             in which the Contract Owner would have attained age 70-1/2; or

(b)    The Contract Owner has named a Beneficiary other than his or her
       surviving spouse and such Beneficiary elects to receive a Distribution of
       the account in nearly equal payments over his or her life (or a period
       not exceeding his or her life expectancy) commencing not later than
       December 31 of the year following the year in which the Contract Owner
       dies.

       If the Contract Owner dies after Distribution has commenced, the
Distribution must continue at least as rapidly as under the schedule being used
prior to the Contract Owner's death, except to the extent that a surviving
spouse Beneficiary may elect to treat the Contract as his or her own, in the
same manner as is described in section (a)(i) of this provision.

       If the amounts distributed to the Contract Owner are less than those
mentioned above, penalty tax of 50% is levied on the amount that should have
been distributed for that year.

       A pro-rata portion of all Distributions will be included in the gross
income of the person receiving the Distribution and taxed at ordinary income tax
rates. The portion of the Distribution which is taxable is based on the ratio
between the amount by which non-deductible Purchase Payments exceed prior
non-taxable Distributions and total account balances at the time of the
Distribution. The Contract Owner must annually 


                                       21

                                    23 of 96
<PAGE>   24
report the amount of non-deductible Purchase Payments, the amount of any
Distribution, the amount by which non-deductible Purchase Payments for all years
exceed non-taxable Distributions for all years, and the total balance of all
Individual Retirement Annuities.


       Individual Retirement Annuity Distributions will not receive the benefit
of the tax treatment of a lump sum Distribution from a Qualified Plan. If the
Contract Owner dies prior to the time Distribution of the Contract Owner's
interest in the annuity is completed, the balance will also be included in the
Contract Owner's gross estate.

GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFERS

       The Company may determine whether the Death Benefit or any other payment
constitutes a direct skip as defined in Section 2612 of the Code, and the amount
of the tax on the generation-skipping transfer resulting from such direct skip.
If applicable, the payment will be reduced by any tax the Company is required to
pay by Section 2603 of the Code.

       A direct skip may occur when property is transferred to or a Death
Benefit is paid to an individual two or more generations younger than the
Contract Owner.

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTRACT OWNER SERVICES

   
       ASSET REBALANCING - The Contract Owner may direct the automatic
reallocation of contract values to the underlying Mutual Fund options on a
predetermined percentage basis every three months. If the last day of the three
month period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, recognized holiday or any other day
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, the Asset Rebalancing exchange will
occur on the last business day before that day. Asset Rebalancing will not
affect future allocations of Purchase Payments. An Asset Rebalancing request
must be in writing on a form provided by the Company. The Contract Owner may
want to contact a financial adviser in order to discuss the use of Asset
Rebalancing in his or her Contract.

       Contracts issued to a Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan as defined by the Code
may have superseding plan restrictions with regard to frequency of underlying
Mutual Fund exchanges and underlying Mutual Fund options.

       The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Asset Rebalancing
upon 30 days' written notice, such discontinuation will not affect Asset 
Rebalancing programs which have already commenced. The Company also reserves 
the right to assess a processing fee for this service.
    

       DOLLAR COST AVERAGING- The Contract Owner may direct the Company to
automatically transfer a specified amount from the Money Market Fund
Sub-Account, the Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio Sub-Account or the Fixed
Account to any other Sub-Account within the Variable Account on a monthly basis.
This service is intended to allow the Contract 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 in a declining market.
Transfers for purposes of Dollar Cost Averaging can only be made from the Money
Market Fund Sub-Account, the Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio Sub-Account or the
Fixed Account. 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 Contract Owner in order to begin transfers.
Once elected, transfers from the Money Market Fund Sub-Account, the Limited
Maturity Bond Portfolio Sub-Account or the Fixed Account will be processed
monthly until either the value in the Money Market Fund Sub-Account, the Limited
Maturity Bond Portfolio Sub-Account or the Fixed Account is completely depleted
or the Contract Owner instructs the Company in writing to cancel the monthly
transfers.


                                       22

                                    24 of 96
<PAGE>   25
   
       The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering Dollar Cost
Averaging upon 30 days' written notice; such discontinuation will not affect 
Dollar Cost Averaging programs already commenced. The Company also reserves 
the right to assess a processing fee for this service.
    

       SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS- The Contract Owner may elect in writing on a form
provided by the Company to take Systematic Withdrawals of a specified dollar
amount (of at least $100) on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.
The Company will process the withdrawals as directed by surrendering on a
pro-rata basis Accumulation Units from all of the Sub-Accounts in which the
Contract Owner has an interest, and the Fixed Account. A Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge may apply to Systematic Withdrawals in accordance with the
considerations set forth in the "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" section. Each
Systematic Withdrawal is subject to federal income taxes on the taxable portion.
In addition, a 10% federal penalty tax may be assessed on Systematic Withdrawals
if the Contract Owner is under age 59-1/2. If directed by the Contract Owner,
the Company will withhold federal income taxes from each Systematic Withdrawal.
A Systematic Withdrawal program will terminate automatically at the end of each
Contract Year and may be reinstated only pursuant to a new request. The Contract
Owner may discontinue Systematic Withdrawals at any time by notifying the
Company in writing.

   
       If the Contract Owner withdraws amounts pursuant to a Systematic
Withdrawal program, then the Contract Owner may withdraw each Contract Year
without a CDSC an amount up to the greater of (i) 10% of the total sum of all
Purchase Payments made to the Contract at the time of withdrawal, (in addition,
any amount withdrawn from any Individual Retirement Annuity Contract, in order
to meet minimum Distribution requirements shall be free of CDSC); or (ii) the
specified percentage of the Contract Value based on the Contract Owner's age, as
shown in the following table:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Contract Owner's                                 Percentage of
            Age                                       Contract Value
- ----------------------------                   ----------------------------
<S>                                            <C>
       Under 59-1/2                                         5%
     59-1/2 to 70-1/2                                       7%
       70-1/2 to 75                                         9%
        75 and Over                                        13%
</TABLE>

   
       If the total amounts withdrawn in any Contract Year exceed the CDSC-free
amount as calculated under the Systematic Withdrawal method described above,
then such total withdrawn amounts will be eligible only for the 10% of Purchase
Payment CDSC-free withdrawal privilege described in the "Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge" section, and the total amount of CDSC charged during the Contract
Year will be determined in accordance with that provision.

       The Contract Value and the Contract Owner's age for purposes of applying
the CDSC-free withdrawal percentage described in this provision are determined
as of the date the request for a Systematic Withdrawal program is received and
recorded by the Company at its Home Office. (In the case of Joint Owners, the
older Owner's age will be used.) The Contract Owner may elect to take such
CDSC-free amounts only once each Contract Year. Furthermore, this CDSC-free
withdrawal privilege for Systematic Withdrawals is non-cumulative; free amounts
not taken during any given Contract Year cannot be taken as free amounts in a
subsequent Contract Year.
    

       Systematic Withdrawals are not available prior to the expiration of the
ten day free look provision of the Contract. The Company also reserves the right
to assess a processing fee for this service.

STATEMENTS AND REPORTS

   
       The Company will mail to Contract Owners, at their last known address of
record, any statements and reports required by applicable law or regulation.
Contract Owners should therefore give the Company prompt notice of any address
change. The Company will send a confirmation statement to Contract Owners each
time a transaction is made affecting the Owners' Variable Account Contract
Value, such as making additional Purchase Payments, transfers, exchanges or
withdrawals. Quarterly statements are also mailed detailing the Contract
activity during the calendar quarter. Instead of receiving an immediate
confirmation of transactions made pursuant to some types of periodic payment
plan (such as a dollar cost averaging program) or salary reduction arrangement,
the Contract Owner may receive confirmation of such transactions in their
quarterly statements. The Contract Owner should review the information in these
statements carefully. All errors or corrections must be reported to the Company
immediately to assure proper crediting to the Owner's Contract. 
    


                                       23

                                    25 of 96
<PAGE>   26
   
The Company will assume all transactions are accurately reported on quarterly
statements or confirmation statements unless the Contract Owner notifies the
Company otherwise within 30 days after receipt of the statement. The Company
will also send to Contract Owners each year an annual report and a semi-annual
report containing financial statements for the Variable Account, as of December
31 and June 30, respectively.
    

ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT VALUE

       Purchase Payments are allocated to one or more Sub-Accounts within the
Variable Account in accordance with the designation of the underlying Mutual
Funds by the Contract Owner, and converted into Accumulation Units.

   
       The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $15,000. Subsequent
Purchase Payments, if any, must be at least $1,000. Subsequent Purchase Payments
are not permitted in the states of New York, Oregon, and Washington. The
cumulative total of all Purchase Payments under Contracts issued on the life of
any one Designated Annuitant may not exceed $1,000,000 without prior consent of
the Company.

       The initial Purchase Payment allocated to designated Sub-Accounts of the
Variable Account will be priced no later than 2 business days after receipt of
an order to purchase, if the application and all information necessary for
processing the purchase order are complete. The Company may, however, retain the
Purchase Payment for up to 5 business days while attempting to complete an
incomplete application. If the application cannot be made complete within 5
days, the prospective purchaser will be informed of the reasons for the delay
and the Purchase Payment will be returned immediately unless the prospective
purchaser specifically consents to the Company retaining the Purchase Payment
until the application is made complete. Thereafter, subsequent Purchase Payments
will be priced on the basis of the Accumulation Unit Value next completed for
the appropriate Sub-Account after the additional Purchase Payment is received.
    

       Purchase Payments will not be priced on the following nationally
recognized holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

VALUE OF A VARIABLE ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNIT

   
       The value of a Variable Account 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").
    


                                       24

                                    26 of 96
<PAGE>   27
(c)    is a factor representing the daily Mortality Risk Charge, Expense Risk
       Charge and Administration Charge deducted from the Variable Account. Such
       factor is equal to an annual rate of 1.40% of the daily net asset value
       of the Variable Account.

       For underlying Mutual Funds that credit dividends on a daily basis and
pay such dividends once a month (the Nationwide Separate Account Trust - Money
Market Fund), 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 Risk Charge, Expense Risk Charge and Administration
Charge.

VALUATION OF ASSETS

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

DETERMINING THE CONTRACT VALUE

   
       The sum of the value of all Variable Account Accumulation Units
attributable to the Contract and amounts credited to the Fixed Account is the
Contract 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 Purchase Payment is received by the Company. If part or all of the
Contract Value is surrendered or charges or deductions are made against the
Contract Value, an appropriate number of Accumulation Units from the Variable
Account and an appropriate amount from the Fixed Account will be deducted in the
same proportion that the Contract Owner's interest in the Variable Account and
the Fixed Account bears to the total Contract Value.
    

SURRENDER (REDEMPTION)

   
       While the Contract is in force and prior to the earlier of the
Annuitization Date or the death of the Designated Annuitant, the Company will,
upon proper written application by the Contract Owner deemed by the Company to
be in good order, allow the Contract Owner to surrender a portion or all of the
Contract Value. "Proper written application" means that the Contract Owner must
request the surrender in writing and include the Contract. The Company may
require that the signature(s) be guaranteed by a member firm of a major stock
exchange or other depository institution qualified to give such a guaranty.
    

       The Company will, upon receipt of any such written request, surrender a
number of Accumulation Units from the Variable Account and an amount from the
Fixed Account necessary to equal the gross dollar amount requested, less any
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (see "Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). In the event of a partial surrender, the Company will, unless
instructed to the contrary, surrender Accumulation Units from all Sub-Accounts
in which the Contract Owner has an interest, and the Fixed Account. The number
of Accumulation Units surrendered from each Sub-Account and the amount
surrendered from the Fixed Account will be in the same proportion that the
Contract Owner's interest in the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account bears to the
total Contract Value.

       The Company will pay any funds applied for from the Variable Account
within 7 days of receipt of such application in the Company's Home Office.
However, the Company reserves the right to suspend or postpone the date of any
payment of any benefit or values for any Valuation Period (1) when the New York
Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is closed, (2) when trading on the Exchange is
restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of
securities held in the Variable Account is not reasonably practicable or it is
not reasonably practicable to determine the value of the Variable Account's net
assets, or (4) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of security holders,
provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (2) and (3)
exist. The Contract Value on surrender may be more or less than the total of
Purchase Payments made by a Contract Owner, depending on the market value of the
underlying Mutual Fund shares.


                                       25

                                    27 of 96
<PAGE>   28
SURRENDERS UNDER A TAX SHELTERED ANNUITY CONTRACT

       Except as provided below, the Owner may surrender part or all of the
Contract Value at any time this Contract is in force prior to the earlier of the
Annuitization Date or the death of the Designated Annuitant:

A.     The surrender of Contract Value attributable to contributions made
       pursuant to a salary reduction agreement (within the meaning of Code
       Section 402(g)(3)(A) or (C)), or transfers from a Custodial Account
       described in Section 403(b)(7) of the Code, may be executed only -

       1.  when the Contract Owner attains age 59-1/2, separates from service,
           dies, or becomes disabled (within the meaning of Code Section
           72(m)(7)); or

       2.  in the case of hardship (as defined for purposes of Code Section
           401(k)), provided that any surrender of Contract Value in the case of
           hardship may not include any income attributable to salary reduction
           contributions.

B.     The surrender limitations described in A. above for Tax Sheltered
       Annuities apply to:

       1.  salary reduction contributions to Tax Sheltered Annuities made for
           plan years beginning after December 31, 1988;

       2.  earnings credited to such contracts after the last plan year
           beginning before January 1, 1989, on amounts attributable to salary
           reduction contributions; and

       3.  all amounts transferred from 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts (except
           that earnings, and employer contributions as of December 31, 1988 in
           such Custodial Accounts may be withdrawn in the case of hardship).

C.     Any Distribution other than the above, including exercise of a
       contractual ten-day free look provision (when available) may result in
       the immediate application of taxes and penalties and/or retroactive
       disqualification of a Qualified Contract or Tax Sheltered Annuity.

   
       A premature Distribution may not be eligible for rollover treatment. To
assist in preventing disqualification in the event of a ten-day free look, the
Company will agree to transfer the proceeds to another contract which meets the
requirements of Section 403(b) of the Code, upon proper direction by the
Contract Owner. The foregoing is the Company's understanding of the withdrawal
restrictions which are currently applicable under Section 403(b)(11) and Revenue
Ruling 90-24. Such restrictions are subject to legislative change and/or
reinterpretation from time to time. Distributions pursuant to Qualified Domestic
Relations Orders will not be considered to be a violation of the restrictions
stated in this provision.
    

       The Contract surrender provisions may also be modified pursuant to the
plan terms and Code tax provisions when the Contract is issued to fund a
Qualified Plan.

       INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE ADVICE OF
A PERSONAL TAX ADVISER.

TAXES

       The Company does not make any guarantee regarding the tax status for any
Contract or any transaction involving the Contracts. Contract Owners should
consult their financial or tax consultants to discuss in detail their particular
tax situation and the use of the Contracts.

   
       Section 72 of the Code governs taxation of annuities in general. That
section sets forth different rules for: (1) Qualified Contracts; (2) Individual
Retirement Annuities and Individual Retirement Accounts; (3) Tax Sheltered
Annuities; or (4) Non-Qualified Contracts. Each type of annuity is discussed
below.

       Distributions to participants from Qualified Contracts or Tax Sheltered
Annuities are generally taxed when received. A portion of each Distribution is
excludable from income based on the ratio between the after tax investment of
the Owner/Annuitant in the Contract and the value of the Contract at the time of
the withdrawal or Annuitization.
    


                                       26

                                    28 of 96
<PAGE>   29
   
Distributions from Individual Retirement Annuities and Contracts owned by
Individual Retirement Accounts are also generally taxed when received. The
portion of each such payment which is excludable is based on the ratio between
the amount by which nondeductible Purchase Payments to all such Contracts
exceeds prior non-taxable Distributions from such Contracts, and the total
account balances in such Contracts at the time of the Distribution. The Owner of
such Individual Retirement Annuities or the Annuitant under Contracts held by
Individual Retirement Accounts must annually report to the Internal Revenue
Service the amount of nondeductible Purchase Payments, the amount of any
Distribution, the amount by which nondeductible Purchase Payments for all years
exceed non-taxable Distributions for all years, and the total balance in all
Individual Retirement Annuities and Accounts. Owners should consult a financial
consultant, legal counsel or tax advisor to discuss in detail the taxation and
the use of the Contracts.
    

NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

       The rules applicable to Non-Qualified Contracts provide that a portion of
each annuity payment received is excludable from taxable income based on the
ratio between the Contract Owner's investment in the Contract and the expected
return on the Contract. The maximum amount excludable from income is the
investment in the Contract. If the Annuitant dies prior to excluding from income
the entire investment in the Contract, the Annuitant's final tax return may
reflect a deduction for the balance of the investment in the Contract.

   
       Distributions made from the Contract prior to the Annuitization Date are
taxable to the Contract Owner to the extent that the cash value of the Contract
exceeds the Contract Owner's investment at the time of the Distribution.
Distributions, for this purpose, include partial surrenders, dividends, loans,
or any portion of the Contract which is assigned or pledged; or for Contracts
issued after April 22, 1987, any portion of the Contract transferred by gift.
For these purposes, a transfer by gift may occur upon Annuitization if the
Contract Owner and the Annuitant are not the same individual. In determining the
taxable amount of a Distribution, all annuity contracts issued after October 21,
1988, by the same company to the same contract owner during any 12 month period,
will be treated as one annuity contract. Additional limitations on the use of
multiple contracts may be imposed by Treasury Regulations. Distributions prior
to the Annuitization Date with respect to that portion of the Contract invested
prior to August 14, 1982, are treated first as a recovery of the investment in
the Contract as of that date. A Distribution in excess of the amount of the
investment in the Contract as of August 14, 1982, will be treated as taxable
income.
    



   
       The Tax Reform Act of 1986 has changed the tax treatment of certain
Non-Qualified Contracts held by entities other than individuals. Such entities
are taxed currently on the earnings on the Contract which are attributable to
contributions made to the Contract after February 28, 1986. There are exceptions
for immediate annuities and certain Contracts owned for the benefit of an
individual. An immediate annuity, for purposes of this discussion, is a single
premium Contract on which payments begin within one year of purchase. If this
Contract is issued as the result of an exchange described in Section 1035 of the
Code, it will generally be considered to have been purchased on the purchase
date of the contract given up in the exchange.

         Code Section 72 also provides for a penalty, equal to 10% of any
Distribution which is includable in gross income, if such Distribution is made
prior to attaining age 59-1/2 or disability of the Contract Owner. The penalty
does not apply if the Distribution is one of a series of substantially equal
periodic payments made over the life or life expectancy (or joint lives or life
expectancies) of the Annuitant (and the Annuitant's Beneficiary), or for the
purchase of an immediate annuity, or is allocable to an investment in the
Contract before August 14, 1982. A Contract Owner wishing to begin taking
Distributions to which the 10% tax penalty does not apply should forward a
written request to the Company. Upon receipt of a written request from the
Contract Owner, the Company will inform the Contract Owner of the procedures
pursuant to Company policy and subject to limitations of the Contract including
but not limited to first year withdrawals. If the Annuitant or Contract Owner
selects an annuity for life or life expectancy, or begins a pre-defined series
of withdrawals based on life expectancy, and changes the method of payment
before the expiration of 5 years and the attainment of age 59- 1/2, the early
withdrawal penalty will apply. The penalty will be equal to that which would
have been imposed had no exception applied from the outset, and the Annuitant or
Contract Owner will also pay interest on the amount of the penalty from the date
it would have originally applied until it is actually paid.
    

       In order to qualify as an annuity Contract under Section 72 of the Code,
the Contract must provide for Distribution to be made upon the death of the
Contract Owner. In such case, the Contingent Owner or other 


                                       27

                                    29 of 96
<PAGE>   30
   
named recipient must receive the Distribution within 5 years of the Owner's
death. However, the recipient may elect for payments to be made over their life
or life expectancy if such payments begin within one year from the death of the
Contract Owner. If the Contingent Owner or other named recipient is the
surviving spouse, such spouse may be treated as the Contract Owner and the
Contract may be continued throughout the life of the surviving spouse. In the
event the Contract Owner dies on or after the Annuitization Date and before the
entire interest has been distributed, the remaining portion must be distributed
at least as rapidly as under the method of Distribution being used as of the
date of the Contract Owner's death (see "Required Distribution For Tax Sheltered
Annuities"). If the Contract Owner is not an individual, the death of the
Designated Annuitant (or a change in the Designated Annuitant) will result in a
Distribution pursuant to these rules, regardless of whether a Contingent
Designated Annuitant has been named.
    

   
       The Company is required to withhold tax from certain Distributions to the
extent that such Distribution would constitute income to the Contract Owner. The
Contract Owner is entitled to elect not to have federal income tax withheld from
any such Distribution, but may be subject to penalties in the event insufficient
federal income tax is withheld during a calendar year.
    

   
       Generally, the taxable portion of any Distribution from a Contract to a
nonresident alien of the United States is subject to tax withholding at a rate
equal to thirty percent (30%) of such amount or, if applicable, a lower treaty
rate. A payment may not be subject to withholding where the recipient
sufficiently establishes that such payment is effectively connected to the
recipient's conduct of a trade or business in the United States and such payment
is includable in the recipient's gross income.
    

       The Company may be required to determine whether the Death Benefit or any
other payment constitutes a direct skip as defined in Section 2612 of the Code,
and the amount of the tax on the generation-skipping transfer resulting from
such direct skip. If applicable, such payment will be reduced by any tax the
Company is required to pay by Section 2603 of the Code. A direct skip may occur
when property is transferred to or a Death Benefit is paid to an individual two
or more generations younger than the Contract Owner.

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

       The Contract may be purchased as an Individual Retirement Annuity under
Section 408(b) of the Code. Because the Contract's initial and subsequent
Purchase Payments are greater than the maximum contribution permitted an
Individual Retirement Annuity, or an Individual Retirement Annuity Contract may
be purchased only in connection with a "rollover" (including a direct
trustee-to-trustee transfer, where permitted). Specifically, an Individual
Retirement Annuity Contract may be purchased only in connection with a rollover
of amounts from a Qualified Plan, Tax-Sheltered Annuity or Individual Retirement
Annuity. The Contract Owner should seek competent advice as to the tax
consequences associated with the use of a Contract as an Individual Retirement
Annuity.

       Recent changes to the Code permit the rollover of most Distributions from
Qualified Plans to other Qualified Plans or Individual Retirement Accounts. Most
Distributions from Tax-Sheltered Annuities may be rolled into another
Tax-Sheltered Annuity or Individual Retirement Account. Distributions which may
not be rolled over are those which are:

   
1.     one of a series of substantially equal annual (or more frequent) payments
       made: (a) over the life (or life expectancy) of the employee, (b) the
       joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the employee and the
       employee's designated Beneficiary, or (c) for a specified period of ten
       years or more, or
    

2.     a required minimum Distribution.

       Any Distribution eligible for rollover will be subject to federal tax
withholding at a rate of twenty percent (20%) unless the Distribution is
transferred directly to an appropriate plan as described above.

       Individual Retirement Accounts and Individual Retirement Annuities may
not provide life insurance benefits. If the Death Benefit exceeds the greater of
the cash value of the Contract or the sum of all Purchase Payments (less any
surrenders), it is possible the Internal Revenue Service could determine that
the Individual Retirement Account or Individual Retirement Annuity did not
qualify for the desired tax treatment.


                                       28

                                    30 of 96
<PAGE>   31
DIVERSIFICATION

   

       The Internal Revenue Service has promulgated regulations under Section
817(h) of the Code relating to diversification standards for the investments
underlying a variable annuity contract. The regulations provide that a variable
annuity contract which does not satisfy the diversification standards will not
be treated as an annuity contract, unless the failure to satisfy the regulations
was inadvertent, the failure is corrected, and the 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 Owner if the income, for the period the contract was
not diversified, had been received by the Owner. If the failure to diversify is
not corrected in this manner, the Owner of an annuity Contract will be deemed
the owner of the underlying securities and will be taxed on the earnings of his
or her account. The Company believes, under its interpretation of the Code and
regulations thereunder, that the investments underlying this Contract meet these
diversification standards.

       Representatives of the Internal Revenue Service have suggested, from time
to time, that the number of underlying Mutual Funds available or the number of
transfer opportunities available under a variable product may be relevant in
determining whether the product qualifies for the desired tax treatment. No
formal guidance has been issued in this area. Should the Secretary of the
Treasury issue additional rules or regulations limiting the number of underlying
Mutual Funds, transfers between underlying Mutual Funds, exchanges of underlying
Mutual Funds or changes in investment objectives of underlying Mutual Funds such
that the Contract would no longer qualify as an annuity under Section 72 of the
Code, the Company will take whatever steps are available to remain in
compliance.
    

CHARGE FOR TAX PROVISIONS

       The Company is no longer required to maintain a capital gain reserve
liability on Non-Qualified Contracts since capital gains attributable to assets
held in the Company's Variable Account for such Contracts are not taxable to the
Company. However, the Company reserves the right to implement and adjust the tax
charge in the future, if the tax laws change.

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS AND TAX
SHELTERED ANNUITIES

       The Contracts may be used with Individual Retirement Annuities,
Individual Retirement Accounts, Tax Sheltered Annuities and other plans
receiving favorable tax treatment. For information regarding eligibility,
limitations on permissible amounts of Purchase Payments, and tax consequences on
Distribution from such plans, the purchasers of such Contracts should seek
competent advice. The terms of such plans may limit the rights available under
the Contracts.

       The Code permits the rollover of most Distributions from Qualified Plans
to other Qualified Plans, Individual Retirement Accounts, or Individual
Retirement Annuities. Most Distributions from Tax Sheltered Annuities may be
rolled into another Tax Sheltered Annuity, an Individual Retirement Account, or
an Individual Retirement Annuity. Distributions which may not be rolled over are
those which are:

   

1.     one of a series of substantially equal annual (or more frequent) payments
       made: (a) over the life (or life expectancy) of the employee, (b) the
       joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the employee and the
       employee's designated Beneficiary, or (c) for a specified period of ten
       years or more, or

2.     a required minimum Distribution.

       Any Distribution eligible for rollover will be subject to federal tax
withholding at a 20 percent rate unless the Distribution is transferred directly
to an appropriate plan as described above. Owners should consult a financial
consultant to discuss in detail a particular tax situation and the use of the
Contracts.
    

ADVERTISING

       A "yield" and "effective yield" may be advertised for the Nationwide
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund Sub-Account. "Yield" is a measure of
the net dividend and interest income earned over a specific seven-day period
(which period will be stated in the advertisement) expressed as a percentage of
the offering price of the Sub-Account's units. Yield is an annualized figure,
which means that it is assumed that the Sub- Account generates the same level of
net income over a 52-week period. The "effective yield" is calculated 


                                       29

                                    31 of 96
<PAGE>   32
similarly but includes the effect of assumed compounding, calculated under rules
prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The effective yield will
be slightly higher than yield due to this compounding effect.

   
       The Company may also from time to time advertise the performance of the
Sub-Account of the Variable Account relative to the performance of other
variable annuity Sub-Accounts or underlying mutual funds with similar or
different objectives, or the investment industry as a whole. Other investments
to which the Sub-Accounts may be compared include, but are not limited to:
precious metals; real estate; stocks and bonds; closed-end funds; CDs; bank
money market deposit accounts and passbook savings; and the Consumer Price
Index.
    

       The Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account may also be compared to certain
market indexes, which may include, but are not limited to: S&P 500;
Shearson/Lehman Intermediate Government/Corporate Bond Index; Shearson/Lehman
Long-Term Government/Corporate Bond Index; Donoghue Money Fund Average; U.S.
Treasury Note Index; Bank Rate Monitor National Index of 2 Year CD Rates; and
Dow Jones Industrial Average.

   
       Normally these rankings and ratings are published by independent tracking
services and publications of general interest including, but not limited to:
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., CDA/ Wiesenberger, Morningstar, Donoghue's;
magazines such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine,
Financial World, Consumer Reports, Business Week, Time, Newsweek, National
Underwriter, U.S. News and World Report; rating services such as LIMRA, Value,
Best's Agent Guide, Western Annuity Guide, Comparative Annuity Reports; and
other publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Investor's Daily,
and Standard & Poor's Outlook. In addition, Variable Annuity Research & Data
Service (The VARDS Report) is an independent rating service that ranks over 500
variable annuity funds based upon total return performance. These rating
services and publications rank the performance of the underlying Mutual Funds
against all underlying mutual funds over specified periods and against funds in
specified categories. The rankings may or may not include the effects of sales
or other charges.
    

       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.

   
       The Company may from time to time advertise several types of historical
performance for the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account. The Company may
advertise for the Sub-Accounts standardized "average annual total return",
calculated in a manner prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
nonstandardized "total return." "Average annual total return" will show the
percentage rate of return of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 for at
least the most recent one, five and ten year period, or for a period covering
the time the underlying Mutual Fund option held in the Sub-Account has been in
existence, if the underlying Mutual Fund option has not been in existence for
one of the prescribed periods. This calculation reflects the deduction of all
applicable charges made to the Contracts except for premium taxes, which may be
imposed by certain states.
    

       Nonstandardized "total return" will be calculated in a similar manner and
for the same time periods as the average annual total return except total return
will assume an initial investment of $10,000 and will not reflect the deduction
of any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, which, if reflected, would
decrease the level of performance shown. The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is
not reflected because the Contracts are designed for long term investment. An
assumed initial investment of $10,000 will be used because that figure more
closely approximates the size of a typical Contract than does the $1,000 figure
used in calculating the standardized average annual total return quotations. The
amount of the hypothetical initial investment assumed affects performance
because the Contract Maintenance Charge is a fixed per Contract charge.


                                       30

                                    32 of 96
<PAGE>   33
       For those underlying Mutual Fund options which have not been held as
Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for one of the quoted periods, the
standardized average annual total return and nonstandardized total return
quotations will show the investment performance such underlying Mutual Fund
options would have achieved (reduced by the applicable charges) had they been
held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for the period quoted.

ALL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND COMPARATIVE MATERIAL ADVERTISED BY THE COMPANY
IS HISTORICAL IN NATURE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPRESENT OR GUARANTEE FUTURE
RESULTS. A CONTRACT OWNER'S CONTRACT VALUE AT REDEMPTION MAY BE MORE OR LESS
THAN ORIGINAL COST.

       Standardized average annual total return and non-standardized total
returns are calculated as described above, for each of the Sub-Accounts
available within the Variable Account for which there is significant investment
history. These figures are based upon historical earnings and are not
necessarily representative of future results.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
                                         STANDARDIZED AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 YEAR TO               5 YEARS TO              LIFE OF FUND               DATE FUND
        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS                 12-31-95                 12/31/95                TO 12/31/95               EFFECTIVE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                     <C>                     <C>                        <C>
Fidelity Advisor Annuity
Government Investment Fund                   8.08%                      N/A                     8.08%                  12/01/94
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    24.00%                      N/A                    24.00%                  12/01/94
Growth Opportunities Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    11.65%                      N/A                    11.65%                  12/01/94
High Yield Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                     5.46%                      N/A                     5.46%                  12/01/94
Income & Growth Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    -3.21%                      N/A                    -3.21%                  12/01/94
Money Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                     1.66%                      N/A                     1.66%                  12/01/94
Overseas Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 YEAR TO               5 YEARS TO              LIFE OF FUND               DATE FUND
        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS                 12-31-95                 12/31/95                TO 12/31/95               EFFECTIVE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                     <C>                     <C>                        <C>   
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    15.08%                      N/A                    15.08%                  12/01/94
Government Investment Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    31.00%                      N/A                    31.00%                  12/01/94
Growth Opportunities Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    18.65%                      N/A                    18.65%                  12/01/94
High Yield Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                    12.46%                      N/A                    12.46%                  12/01/94
Income & Growth Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                     3.79%                      N/A                     3.79%                  12/01/94
Money Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                     8.66%                      N/A                     8.66%                  12/01/94
Overseas Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    


                                       31

                                    33 of 96
<PAGE>   34
                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

       There are no material legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business to which the Company and the Variable
Account are parties or to which any of their property is the subject.

       The General Distributor, Fidelity Investments Institutional Services
Company, Inc., is not engaged in any litigation of any material nature.

            TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   

                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                         <C>
General Information and History ..........................................    1
Services .................................................................    1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered .....................................    1
Underwriters .............................................................    2
Calculations of Performance ..............................................    2
Underlying Mutual Fund Performance Summary ...............................    3
Annuity Payments .........................................................    4
Financial Statements .....................................................    5
    
</TABLE>


                                       32

                                    34 of 96
<PAGE>   35
                                    APPENDIX

       Purchase Payments under the Fixed Account portion of the Contract and
transfers to the Fixed Account portion become part of the general account of the
Company, which support insurance and annuity obligations. Because of exemptive
and exclusionary provisions, interests in the general account have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), nor is the general
account registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940 ("1940 Act"). Accordingly, neither the general account nor any interest
therein are generally subject to the provisions of the 1933 or 1940 Acts, and we
have been advised that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has
not reviewed the disclosures in this prospectus which related to the guaranteed
interest portion. Disclosures regarding the Fixed Account portion of the
Contract and the general account, however, may be subject to certain generally
applicable provisions of the federal securities laws relating to the accuracy
and completeness of statements made in prospectuses.

                            FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS

THE FIXED ACCOUNT

       The Fixed Account is made up of all the general assets of the Company,
other than those in the Variable Account and any other segregated asset account.
Fixed Account Purchase Payments will be allocated to the Fixed Account by
election of the Contract Owner at the time of purchase.

       The Company will invest the assets of the Fixed Account in those assets
chosen by the Company and allowed by applicable law. Investment income from such
Fixed Account assets will be allocated by the Company between itself and the
Contracts participating in the Fixed Account.

       The level of annuity payments made to Annuitants under the Contracts will
not be affected by the mortality experience (death rate) of persons receiving
such payments or of the general population. The Company assumes this "mortality
risk" by virtue of annuity rates incorporated in the Contract which cannot be
changed. In addition, the Company guarantees that it will not increase charges
for maintenance of the Contracts regardless of its actual expenses.

       Investment income from the Fixed Account allocated to the Company
includes compensation for mortality and expense risks borne by the Company in
connection with Fixed Account Contracts. The amount of such investment income
allocated to the Contracts will vary from year to year in the sole discretion of
the Company at such rate or rates as the Company prospectively declares from
time to time. Any such rate or rates so determined will remain effective for a
period of not less than twelve months, and remain at such rate unless changed.
However, the Company guarantees that it will credit interest at not less than
3.0% per year (or as otherwise required under state law, or at such minimum rate
as stated in the contract when sold). ANY INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED
TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF 3.0% PER YEAR WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE
DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY. THE CONTRACT OWNER ASSUMES THE RISK THAT INTEREST
CREDITED TO FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF
3.0% FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR. New Purchase Payments deposited to the Contract which
are allocated to the Fixed Account may receive a different rate of interest than
money transferred from the Variable Sub-Accounts to the Fixed Account and
amounts maturing in the Fixed Account at the expiration of an Interest Rate
Guarantee Period.

       The Company guarantees that, at any time, the Fixed Account Contract
Value will not be less than the amount of the Purchase Payments allocated to the
Fixed Account, plus interest credited as described above, less the sum of all
administrative charges, any applicable premium taxes, and less any amounts
surrendered. If the Contract Owner effects a surrender, the amount available
from the Fixed Account will be reduced by any applicable Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge (see "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").

TRANSFERS

       Contract Owners may at the maturity of an Interest Rate Guarantee Period,
transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed Account to the Variable Account.
The maximum percentage that may be transferred will be determined by the Company
at its sole discretion, but will not be less than 10% of the total value of the
portion of the Fixed Account that is maturing and will be declared upon the
expiration date of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period. The Interest
Rate Guarantee Period expires on the final day of a calendar quarter.


                                       33

                                    35 of 96
<PAGE>   36
Transfers must be made within 45 days after the expiration date of the guarantee
period. 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.

                      ANNUITY PAYMENT PERIOD-FIXED ACCOUNT

FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT PAYMENTS

       A Fixed Annuity is an annuity with payments which are guaranteed by the
Company as to dollar amount during the annuity payment period. The first Fixed
Annuity payment will be determined by applying the Fixed Account Contract Value
to the applicable Annuity Table in accordance with the Annuity Payment Option
elected. This will be done at the Annuitization Date on an age last birthday
basis. Fixed Annuity payments after the first will not be less than the first
Fixed Annuity payment.

       The Company does not credit discretionary interest to Fixed Annuity
payments during the annuity payment period for annuity options based on life
contingencies. The Annuitant must rely on the Annuity Tables applicable to the
Contracts to determine the amount of such Fixed Annuity payments.


                                       34

                                    36 of 96
<PAGE>   37
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
   
                                   MAY 1, 1996
    

INDIVIDUAL MODIFIED SINGLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS ISSUED BY
                THE NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                      OF NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

   
       This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It contains
information in addition to and more detailed than set forth in the prospectus
and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated May 1, 1996. The
prospectus may be obtained from Nationwide Life Insurance Company by writing
P.O. Box 182610, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2610, or calling 1-800-573-5775, Voice
Response (available 24 hours) 1-800- 573-2447, TDD 1-800-238-3035.
    

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                         <C>
General Information and History ..........................................    1
Services .................................................................    1
Purchase of Securities Being Offered .....................................    1
Underwriters .............................................................    2
Calculations of Performance ..............................................    2
Underlying Mutual Fund Performance Summary ...............................    3
Annuity Payments .........................................................    4
Financial Statements .....................................................    5
    
</TABLE>

GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY

       The Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account is a separate investment
account of Nationwide Life Insurance Company ("Company"). The Company is a
member of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise and all of the Company's common
stock is owned by Nationwide Corporation. Nationwide Corporation is a holding
company. All of its common stock is held by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
(95.3%) and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (4.7%).

SERVICES

       The Company, which has responsibility for administration of the Contracts
and the Variable Account, maintains records of the name, address, taxpayer
identification number, and other pertinent information for each Contract Owner
and the number and type of Contract issued to each such Contract Owner and
records with respect to the Contract Value of each Contract.

   
       The Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account is the Company. The
Company will maintain a record of all purchases and redemptions of shares of the
underlying Mutual Funds. The Company has entered into an agreement with the
adviser of the underlying Mutual Funds. The agreement relates to administrative
services furnished by the Company and provides for an annual fee based on the
average aggregate net assets of the Variable Account (and other separate
accounts of the Company or life insurance company subsidiaries of the Company)
invested in particular underlying Mutual Funds. These fees in no way affect the
net asset value of the underlying Mutual Funds or fees paid by the Contract
Owner.
    

       The financial statements and schedules have been included herein in
reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, Two Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

PURCHASE OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED

       The Contracts will be sold by licensed insurance agents in the states
where the Contracts may be lawfully sold. Such agents will be registered
representatives of broker-dealers registered under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.

   
       The Contract Owner may transfer up to 100% of the Contract Value from the
Variable Account to the Fixed Account. However, the Company, at its sole
discretion, reserves the right to limit such transfers to 25% of the Contract
Value for any 12 month period. Contract Owners may at the maturity of an
Interest Rate Guarantee Period transfer a portion of the Contract Value of the
Fixed Account to the Variable Account. Such portion will be determined by the
Company at its sole discretion (but will not be less than 10% of the total value
of the portion of the Fixed Account that is maturing), and will be declared upon
the expiration date of the then current Interest Rate Guarantee Period. The
Interest Rate Guarantee Period expires on the final day of a calendar quarter.
Transfers under this provision must be made within 45 days after the termination
date of the 
    


                                       1

                                    37 of 96
<PAGE>   38
guarantee period. Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost Averaging agreement
with the Company may transfer from the Fixed Account under the terms of that
agreement.

       Transfers from the Fixed and Variable Accounts may not be made prior to
the first Contract Anniversary. Transfers from the Fixed Account may not be made
within 12 months of any prior Transfer. Transfers must also be made prior to the
Annuitization Date.

UNDERWRITERS

       The Contracts, which are offered continuously, are distributed by
Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, Inc. ("Fidelity"), 82
Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The Company has paid no
underwriting commission to Fidelity.

CALCULATIONS OF PERFORMANCE

   
       Any current yield quotations of the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market
Fund Sub-Account, subject to Rule 482 of the Securities Act of 1933, shall
consist of a seven calendar day historical yield, carried at least to the
nearest hundredth of a percent. The yield shall be calculated by determining the
net change, exclusive of capital changes, in the value of hypothetical
pre-existing account having a balance of one accumulation unit at the beginning
of the base period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from
Contract Owner accounts, and dividing the net change in account value by the
value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain a base period
return, and multiplying the base period return by (365/7) or (366/7) in a leap
year. As of December 31, 1995, the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund
Sub-Account's seven day current unit value yield was 3.98%. The Fidelity Advisor
Annuity Money Market Fund Sub-Account's effective yield shall be computed
similarly but includes the effect of assumed compounding on an annualized basis
of the current unit value yield quotations of the Fund, and for the period
ending December 31, 1995, the effective yield was 4.06%.
    

       The Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund Sub-Account's yield and
effective yield will fluctuate daily. Actual yields will depend on factors such
as the type of instruments in the Fund's portfolio, portfolio quality and
average maturity, changes in interest rates, and the Fund's expenses. Although
the Sub-Account determines its yield on the basis of a seven calendar day
period, it may use a different time period on occasion. The yield quotes may
reflect the expense limitation described in the Fund's Statement of Additional
Information. There is no assurance that the yields quoted on any given occasion
will remain in effect for any period of time and there is no guarantee that the
net asset values will remain constant. It should be noted that a Contract
Owner's investment in the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund Sub-Account
is not guaranteed or insured. Yield of other money market funds may not be
comparable if a different base period or another method of calculation is used.

   
       Income generated within a bond Sub-Account may be reflected in "30 Day
Yield" quotations. Such quotations are computed by dividing the net investment
income per Accumulation Unit during the 30 day period by the maximum unit value
per Accumulation Unit on the last day of the period. The formula for arriving at
bond fund yield quotations is as follows: 2[((a-b)/cd+1)6th power-1] where: 
a = net investment income earned by the applicable portfolio; b = expenses for
the period, including contract level fees and charges; c = the average daily
number of Accumulation Units outstanding during the period; and d = the maximum
offering price per Accumulation Unit on the last day of the period.
    

       All performance advertising shall also include quotations of standardized
average annual total return, calculated in accordance with a standard method
prescribed by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to facilitate
comparison with standardized Average annual total return advertised for a
specific period is found by first taking a hypothetical $1,000 investment in
each of the Sub-Accounts' units on the first day of the period at the offering
price, which is the Accumulation Unit Value per unit ("initial investment") and
computing the ending redeemable value ("redeemable value") of that investment at
the end of the period. The redeemable value is then divided by the initial
investment and this quotient is taken to the Nth root (N represents the number
of years in the period) and 1 is subtracted from the result which is then
expressed as a percentage, carried to at least the nearest hundredth of a
percent. Standardized average annual total return reflects the deduction of a
1.40% Mortality, Expense Risk and Administration Charge. The redeemable value
also reflects the effect of any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge that
may be imposed at the end of the period (see "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"
located in the prospectus.) No deduction is made for premium taxes which may be
assessed by certain states. Nonstandardized total return may also be advertised,
and is calculated in a manner similar to standardized average annual total
return except the nonstandardized total return is based on a hypothetical
initial investment of $25,000 and does not reflect the deduction of any


                                       2

                                    38 of 96
<PAGE>   39
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Reflecting the Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge would decrease the level of the performance advertised. The
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is not reflected because the Contract is
designed for long term investment. An assumed initial investment of $25,000 will
be used because that figure more closely approximates the size of a typical
Contract than does the $1,000 figure used in calculating the standardized
average annual total return quotations.

   
       The standardized average annual total return and nonstandardized total
return quotations will be current to the last day of the calendar quarter
preceding the date on which an advertisement is submitted for publication. Both
the standardized average annual return and the nonstandardized total return will
be based on rolling calendar quarters and will cover periods of one, five, and
ten years, or a period covering the time the underlying Mutual Fund held in the
Sub-Account has been in existence, if the underlying Mutual Fund has not been in
existence for one of the prescribed periods. For those underlying Mutual Funds
which have not been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for one of
the quoted periods, the standardized average annual total return and
nonstandardized total return quotations will show the investment performance
such underlying Mutual Funds would have achieved (reduced by the applicable
charges) had they been held as Sub-Accounts within the Variable Account for the
period quoted.
    

       Quotations of standardized average annual total return and
non-standardized total return are based upon historical earnings and will
fluctuate. Any quotation of performance, therefore, would not be considered a
guarantee of future performance. Factors affecting a Sub-Account's performance
include general market conditions, operating expenses and investment management.
A Contract Owner's account when redeemed may be more or less than original cost.

   
       Standardized average annual return and non-standardized total returns are
calculated as described above, for each of the Sub-Accounts available within the
Variable Account for which there is significant investment history. These
figures are based upon historical earnings and are not necessarily
representative of future results.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
                                         STANDARDIZED AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 YEAR TO               5 YEARS TO              LIFE OF FUND               DATE FUND
        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS                 12-31-95                 12/31/95                TO 12/31/95               EFFECTIVE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                     <C>                     <C>                        <C>
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                       8.08%                    N/A                     8.08%                  12/01/94
Government Investment Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      24.00%                    N/A                    24.00%                  12/01/94
Growth Opportunities Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      11.65%                    N/A                    11.65%                  12/01/94
High Yield Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                       5.46%                    N/A                     5.46%                  12/01/94
Income & Growth Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      -3.21%                    N/A                    -3.21%                  12/01/94
Money Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                       1.66%                    N/A                     1.66%                  12/01/94
Overseas Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    


                                       3

                                    39 of 96
<PAGE>   40
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 YEAR TO               5 YEARS TO              LIFE OF FUND               DATE FUND
        SUB-ACCOUNT OPTIONS                 12-31-95                 12/31/95                TO 12/31/95               EFFECTIVE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                     <C>                     <C>                        <C>
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      15.08%                    N/A                    15.08%                  12/01/94
Government Investment Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      31.00%                    N/A                    31.00%                  12/01/94
Growth Opportunities Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      18.65%                    N/A                    18.65%                  12/01/94
High Yield Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                      12.46%                    N/A                    12.46%                  12/01/94
Income & Growth Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                       3.79%                    N/A                     3.79%                  12/01/94
Money Market Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Advisor Annuity                       8.66%                    N/A                     8.66%                  12/01/94
Overseas Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

ANNUITY PAYMENTS

       See "Frequency and Amount of Annuity Payments" located in the prospectus.


                                       4

                                    40 of 96
<PAGE>   41

<PAGE>   1

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

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board of Directors and Contract Owners of
  Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account 
  Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

    We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account as of
December 31, 1995, and the related statement of operations and changes in
contract owners' equity and schedule of changes in unit value for the year then
ended. These financial statements and schedule 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 schedule of changes in unit value
based on our audit. 

    We conducted our audit 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 schedule 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, 1995, by correspondence with the custodian and 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

    In our opinion, the financial statements and schedule of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account as of December 31,
1995, and the results of its operations and its changes in contract owners'
equity and the schedule of changes in unit value for the year then ended in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. 

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio 
February 6, 1996



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

<PAGE>   2

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

                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
          STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                    <C>
ASSETS:
Investments at market value:
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity Government Investment Fund (FAAGvInv)
     757,673 shares (cost $8,418,241) ..........................       $  8,395,016
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity Growth Opportunities Fund (FAAGroOp)
     12,568,860 shares (cost $153,577,483) .....................        164,274,999
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity High Yield Fund (FAAHiYld)
     3,399,341 shares (cost $38,988,010) .......................         39,364,365
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity Income & Growth Fund (FAAIncGr)
     3,863,222 shares (cost $42,013,333) .......................         43,152,191
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund (FAAMyMkt)
     28,974,511 shares (cost $28,974,511) ......................         28,974,511
  Fidelity Advisor Annuity Overseas Fund (FAAOSeas)
     1,505,319 shares (cost $16,122,382) .......................         16,483,238
                                                                       ------------
         Total investments .....................................        300,644,320
Accounts receivable ............................................              8,007
                                                                       ------------
         Total assets ..........................................        300,652,327
                                                                       ============
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY ........................................       $300,652,327
                                                                       ============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contract owners' equity represented by:                         Units       Unit Value
                                                                -----       ----------
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>                    <C>
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Classic contracts:
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Government Investment Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                 27,705   $      11.504795       $        318,740
       Non-tax qualified ......................                 20,929          11.504795                240,784
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Growth Opportunities Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                765,860          13.082083             10,019,044
       Non-tax qualified ......................                706,845          13.082083              9,247,005
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity High Yield Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                138,890          11.858324              1,647,003
       Non-tax qualified ......................                136,503          11.858324              1,618,697
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Income & Growth Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                208,830          11.245581              2,348,415
       Non-tax qualified ......................                214,834          11.245581              2,415,933
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                 68,159          10.385538                707,868
       Non-tax qualified ......................                 93,702          10.385538                973,146
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity Overseas Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                 73,727          10.868973                801,337
       Non-tax qualified ......................                 56,545          10.868973                614,586
Fidelity Advisor Annuity Select contracts:
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Government Investment Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                237,795          11.493314              2,733,053
       Non-tax qualified ......................                443,946          11.493314              5,102,411
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Growth Opportunities Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................              2,965,497          13.069019             38,756,137
       Non-tax qualified ......................              8,130,130          13.069019            106,252,823
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity High Yield Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                798,794          11.846502              9,462,915
       Non-tax qualified ......................              2,248,404          11.846502             26,635,722
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity
    Income & Growth Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                975,789          11.234358             10,962,363
       Non-tax qualified ......................              2,441,208          11.234358             27,425,405
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                798,314          10.375160              8,282,635
       Non-tax qualified ......................              1,833,132          10.375160             19,019,038
    Fidelity Advisor Annuity Overseas Fund:
       Tax qualified ..........................                369,362          10.858102              4,010,570
       Non-tax qualified ......................              1,018,290          10.858102             11,056,697
                                                             =========   ================       ----------------
                                                                                                $    300,652,327
                                                                                                ================
</TABLE>




See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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

<PAGE>   4
================================================================================

                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
         STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1995
                                                                        ----
<S>                                                               <C>
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY:
  Reinvested capital gains and dividends ................         $   5,253,187
                                                                  -------------
  Gain (loss) on investments:
    Proceeds from redemptions of mutual fund shares .....            10,325,387
    Cost of mutual fund shares sold .....................           (10,182,494)
                                                                  -------------
    Realized gain (loss) on investments .................               142,893
    Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments .....            12,550,359
                                                                  -------------
      Net gain (loss) on investments ....................            12,693,252
                                                                  -------------
          Net investment activity .......................            17,946,439
                                                                  -------------
EQUITY TRANSACTIONS:
  Purchase payments received from contract owners .......           286,274,311
  Redemptions ...........................................            (2,222,588)
  Adjustments to maintain reserves ......................                 8,009
                                                                  -------------
          Net equity transactions .......................           284,059,732
                                                                  -------------
EXPENSES (NOTE 2):
  Contract charges ......................................            (1,324,828)
  Contingent deferred sales charges .....................               (29,016)
                                                                  -------------
          Total expenses ................................            (1,353,844)
                                                                  -------------
NET CHANGE IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY ...................           300,652,327
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY BEGINNING OF PERIOD .............                  --
                                                                  -------------
CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY END OF PERIOD ...................         $ 300,652,327
                                                                  =============
</TABLE>





See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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

<PAGE>   5
================================================================================

                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               DECEMBER 31, 1995


(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

  (a) Organization and Nature of Operations

   Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account (the Account) was established
pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance
Company (the Company) on July 22, 1994. The Account has been registered as a
unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

   The Company offers tax qualified and non-tax qualified Individual Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts, and Individual Modified Single Premium Deferred
Variable Annuity Contracts through the Account. The primary distribution for the
contracts is through Fidelity Investments(R).

  (b) The Contracts

   Only contracts without a front-end sales charge, but with a contingent
deferred sales charge and certain other fees, are offered for purchase. See note
2 for a discussion of contract expenses.

   Contract owners in either the accumulation or the payout phase may invest in
any of the following:

         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Government Investment Fund (FAAGvInv) 
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Growth Opportunities Fund (FAAGroOp)
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity High Yield Fund (FAAHiYld) 
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Income & Growth Fund (FAAIncGr) 
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Money Market Fund (FAAMyMkt) 
         Fidelity Advisor Annuity Overseas Fund (FAAOSeas) 

   At December 31, 1995, contract owners have invested in all of the above
funds. The contract owners' equity is affected by the investment results of each
fund, equity transactions by contract owners and certain contract expenses (see
note 2). 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, 1995. The cost of investments sold is
determined on a 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 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.


<PAGE>   6

  (2) EXPENSES

    The Company does not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments received
from the contract owners. However, if any part of the contract value of such
contracts is surrendered, the Company will, with certain exceptions, deduct from
a contract owner's contract value a contingent deferred sales charge, not to
exceed 7% of the lesser of purchase payments or the amount surrendered, such
charge declining 1% per year, to 0%, after the purchase payment has been held in
the contract for 84 months. No sales charges are deducted on redemptions used to
purchase units in the fixed investment options of the Company.

    The following administrative charges are deducted by the Company: (a) for
the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Classic contracts an annual contract maintenance
charge of $30, with certain exceptions, which is satisfied by surrendering
units; and (b) for the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Classic contracts a mortality
risk charge, an expense risk charge and an administration charge assessed
through the daily unit value calculation equal to an annual rate of 0.80%, 0.45%
and 0.05%, respectively; for the Fidelity Advisor Annuity Select contracts a
mortality risk charge, an expense risk charge and an administration charge
assessed through the daily unit value calculations equal to an annual rate of
0.80%, 0.45% and 0.15%, respectively.

  (3) 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 for each
series, as applicable, in the following format: 

        -   Beginning unit value - Jan. 1

        -   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.)

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

        -   Contract charges
            (This amount reflects the decrease in the unit value due to the
            mortality risk charge, expense risk charge and administration charge
            discussed in note 2.)

        -   Ending unit value - Dec. 31

        -   Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.

    For contracts in the payout phase, an assumed investment return of 3.5%,
used in the calculation of the annuity benefit payment amount, results in a
corresponding reduction in the components of the unit values as shown in
Schedule I.

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

<PAGE>   7
                                                                      SCHEDULE I

                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                   FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY CLASSIC CONTRACTS
                      TAX QUALIFIED AND NON-TAX QUALIFIED
                       SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               FAAGvInv          FAAGroOp       FAAHiYld        FAAIncGr     FAAMyMkt    FAAOSeas
                                               --------          --------       --------        --------     --------    --------
<S>                                         <C>                 <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>         <C>
1995
    Beginning unit value - Jan. 1           $  10.000000        10.000000       10.000000       10.000000    10.000000   10.000000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Reinvested capital gains and dividends       .562856          .177745         .424612         .217242      .517389     .059248
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unrealized gain (loss)                      1.081135         3.053458        1.576049        1.165103      .000000     .944343
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Contract charges                            (.139196)        (.149120)       (.142337)       (.136764)    (.131851)   (.134618)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ending unit value - Dec. 31             $  11.504795        13.082083       11.858324       11.245581    10.385538   10.868973
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Percentage increase (decrease)
        in unit value*                                15%              31%             19%             12%           4%          9%
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


    *   An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as contract charges do
        not include the annual contract maintenance charge discussed in note 2.

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

<PAGE>   8
                                                           SCHEDULE I, CONTINUED

                  NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                   FIDELITY ADVISOR ANNUITY SELECT CONTRACTS
                      TAX QUALIFIED AND NON-TAX QUALIFIED
                       SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             FAAGvInv      FAAGroOp    FAAHiYld   FAAIncGr    FAAMyMkt     FAAOSeas
                                             --------      --------    --------   --------    --------     --------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
1995
    Beginning unit value - Jan. 1            $10.000000   10.000000   10.000000   10.000000   10.000000   10.000000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Reinvested capital gains and dividends      .562307     .177572     .424198     .217030     .517131     .059190
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unrealized gain (loss)                     1.080916    3.052053    1.575576    1.164620     .000000     .943888
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Contract charges                           (.149909)   (.160606)   (.153272)   (.147292)   (.141971)   (.144976)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ending unit value - Dec. 31              $11.493314   13.069019   11.846502   11.234358   10.375160   10.858102
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Percentage increase (decrease)
        in unit value*                               15%         31%         18%         12%          4%          9%
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

    *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as contract charges do
not include the annual contract maintenance charge discussed in note 2.


See note 3.

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



<PAGE>   42

<PAGE>   1


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


The Board of Directors
Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation) and
subsidiaries as listed in the accompanying index. In connection with our audits
of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial
statement schedules as listed in the accompanying index. These consolidated
financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility
of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules 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.

Participating insurance and the related surplus are discussed in note 12. The
Company and its counsel are of the opinion that the ultimate ownership of the
participating surplus in excess of the contemplated equitable policyholder
dividends belongs to the shareholder. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements are presented on such basis.

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, 1995 and 1994, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial
statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated
financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material
respects, the information set forth therein.

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

In 1993, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 109,  Accounting for
Income Taxes and SFAS No. 106,  Employers'  Accounting for Postretirement
Benefits Other Than Pensions.


                                                   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Columbus, Ohio
February 26, 1996



<PAGE>   2
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

                          Consolidated Balance Sheets
                           December 31, 1995 and 1994

                                (000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        ASSETS                                                1995               1994
                                        ------                                          -----------------   ----------------   
<S>                                                                                             <C>               <C>         
Investments (notes 5, 8 and 9): 
  Securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
     Fixed maturities (cost $13,438,630 in 1995; $8,318,865 in 1994)                       $ 14,167,377        8,045,906
     Equity securities (cost $27,362 in 1995; $18,372 in 1994)                                   33,718           24,713
   Fixed maturities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $3,602,310 in 1994)           -            3,688,787
   Mortgage loans on real estate                                                              4,786,599        4,222,284
   Real estate                                                                                  239,089          252,681
   Policy loans                                                                                 370,908          340,491
   Other long-term investments                                                                   67,280           63,914
   Short-term investments (note 13)                                                              45,732          131,643
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                                             19,710,703       16,770,419
                                                                                            -----------      -----------

Cash                                                                                             10,485            7,436
Accrued investment income                                                                       239,881          220,540
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                             1,094,195        1,064,159
Deferred Federal income tax                                                                        --             36,515
Other assets                                                                                    795,169          790,603
Assets held in Separate Accounts (note 8)                                                    18,763,678       12,222,461
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                                            $40,614,111       31,112,133
                                                                                            ===========      ===========

                         LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                         ------------------------------------

Future policy benefits and claims (notes 6 and 8)                                            18,200,128       16,321,461
Policyholders' dividend accumulations                                                           353,554          338,058
Other policyholder funds                                                                         71,155           72,770
Accrued Federal income tax (note 7):

   Current                                                                                       34,064           13,126
   Deferred                                                                                     238,877                -  
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                                                272,941           13,126
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
Other liabilities                                                                               284,143          235,778
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts (note 8)                                            18,763,678       12,222,461
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                                             37,945,599       29,203,654
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
Shareholder's equity (notes 3, 4, 5, 7, 12 and 13):
   Capital shares, $1 par value.  Authorized 5,000 shares, issued and
     outstanding 3,815 shares                                                                    3,815             3,815
   Additional paid-in capital                                                                   673,782          622,753
   Retained earnings                                                                          1,606,607        1,401,579
   Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale, net                              384,308         (119,668)
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                                              2,668,512        1,908,479
                                                                                            -----------      -----------
Commitments and contingencies (notes 9 and 15)

                                                                                            $40,614,111       31,112,133
                                                                                            ===========      ===========


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

                       Consolidated Statements of Income

                  Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1995            1994            1993     
                                                                                 ---------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>          <C>           <C>
Revenues (note 16):

   Traditional life insurance premiums                                                 $  274,957      209,538       215,715
   Accident and health insurance premiums                                                 509,658      324,524       312,655
   Universal life and investment product policy charges                                   307,676      239,021       188,057
   Net investment income (note 5)                                                       1,482,980    1,289,501     1,204,426
   Realized gains (losses) on investments  (notes 5 and 13)                                   836      (16,384)      113,673
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------
                                                                                        2,576,107    2,046,200     2,034,526
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------
Benefits and expenses:

   Benefits and claims                                                                  1,656,287    1,279,763     1,236,906
   Provision for policyholders' dividends on participating policies (note 12)              48,074       46,061        53,189
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                                       93,044       94,744       102,134
   Other operating costs and expenses                                                     458,970      352,402       329,396
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------
                                                                                        2,256,375    1,772,970     1,721,625
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------
      Income before Federal income tax expense and cumulative effect of
        changes in accounting principles                                                 319,732      273,230       312,901
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------

Federal income tax expense (note 7):

   Current                                                                                103,464       79,847        75,124
   Deferred                                                                                 3,790        9,657        31,634
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------
                                                                                          107,254       89,504       106,758
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------

      Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles                 212,478      183,726       206,143

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net (note 3)                            --           --         5,365
                                                                                       ----------   ----------    ----------

      Net income                                                                       $  212,478      183,726       211,508
                                                                                       ==========   ==========    ==========


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   4

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

                Consolidated Statements of Shareholder's Equity

                  Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (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>
1993:

   Balance, beginning of year                     $   3,815      311,753    1,024,150          90,524       1,430,242
   Capital contributions                                 --      111,000           --              --         111,000
   Dividends paid to shareholder                         --           --      (17,805)             --         (17,805)
   Net income                                            --           --      211,508              --         211,508
   Unrealized losses on equity securities, net           --           --           --         (83,777)        (83,777)
                                                 ----------   ----------    ----------     ----------      ----------
   Balance, end of year                          $    3,815      422,753    1,217,853           6,747       1,651,168
                                                 ==========   ==========    =========      ==========      ==========

1994:

   Balance, beginning of year                         3,815      422,753    1,217,853           6,747       1,651,168
   Capital contribution                                  --      200,000           --              --         200,000
   Net income                                            --           --      183,726              --         183,726
   Adjustment for change in accounting for
      certain investments in debt and equity
      securities, net (note 3)                           --           --           --         216,915         216,915
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                      --           --           --        (343,330)       (343,330)
                                                 ----------   ----------   ----------      ----------      ---------- 
   Balance, end of year                          $    3,815      622,753    1,401,579        (119,668)      1,908,479
                                                 ==========   ==========   ==========      ==========      ========== 
 
1995:

   Balance, beginning of year                         3,815      622,753    1,401,579        (119,668)      1,908,479
   Capital contribution (note 13)                        --       51,029           --          (4,111)         46,918
   Dividends paid to shareholder                         --           --       (7,450)             --          (7,450)
   Net income                                            --           --      212,478              --         212,478
   Unrealized gains on securities available-
       for-sale, net                                     --           --           --         508,087         508,087
                                                 ----------   ----------   ----------      ----------      ----------
   Balance, end of year                          $    3,815      673,782    1,606,607         384,308       2,668,512
                                                 ==========   ==========   ==========      ==========      ========== 
                                                


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   5

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

                     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                  Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1995            1994            1993      
                                                                               --------------    ------------     -----------
<S>                                                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
  Cash flows from operating activities:

   Net income                                                                    $   212,478        183,726        211,508
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
      activities:

         Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs                        (349,456)      (264,434)      (191,994)
         Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            93,044         94,744        102,134
         Amortization and depreciation                                                10,319          6,207         11,156
         Realized losses (gains) on invested assets, net                                 717         15,949       (113,648)
         Deferred Federal income tax expense (benefit)                                 4,023         (2,166)        (6,006)
         Increase in accrued investment income                                       (19,341)       (29,654)        (4,218)
         Increase in other assets                                                     (3,227)      (112,566)      (549,277)
         Increase in policy liabilities                                              198,200      1,038,641        509,370
         Increase in policyholders' dividend accumulations                            15,496         15,372         17,316
         Increase in accrued Federal income tax payable                               20,938            832         16,838
         Increase in other liabilities                                                48,365         17,826         26,958
         Other, net                                                                  (20,556)       (19,303)       (11,745)
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    ------------
            Net cash provided by operating activities                                211,000        945,174         18,392
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    -----------

Cash flows from investing activities:

   Proceeds from maturity of securities available-for-sale                           706,442        579,067             --
   Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale                               131,420        247,876         247,502
   Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturities held-to-maturity                       633,173        516,003       1,192,093
   Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities                                                 --             --          33,959
   Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans on real estate                         215,134        220,744         146,047
   Proceeds from sale of real estate                                                  48,477         46,713          23,587
   Proceeds from repayments of policy loans and sale of other invested assets         79,620        134,998          59,643
   Cost of securities available-for-sale acquired                                 (2,232,047)    (2,569,672)        (12,550)
   Cost of fixed maturities held-to-maturity acquired                               (669,449)      (675,835)     (2,016,831)
   Cost of mortgage loans on real estate acquired                                   (821,078)      (627,025)       (475,336)
   Cost of real estate acquired                                                      (10,970)       (15,962)         (8,827)
   Policy loans issued and other invested assets acquired                            (92,904)      (118,012)        (76,491)
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    ------------
            Net cash used in investing activities                                 (2,012,182)    (2,261,105)      (887,204)
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    -----------

Cash flows from financing activities:

   Proceeds from capital contributions                                                46,918        200,000        111,000
   Dividends paid to shareholder                                                      (7,450)            --        (17,805)
   Increase in universal life and investment product account balances              3,202,135      3,640,958      2,249,740
   Decrease in universal life and investment product account balances             (1,523,283)    (2,449,580)    (1,458,504)
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    -----------
            Net cash provided by financing activities                              1,718,320      1,391,378        884,431
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    -----------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                                 (82,862)        75,447         15,619

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year                                         139,079         63,632         48,013
                                                                                 -----------    -----------    -----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year                                           $    56,217        139,079         63,632
                                                                                 ===========    ===========    ===========


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   6
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                       December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993

                               (000's omitted)


(1)   ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

      Nationwide Life Insurance Company (NLIC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of
      Nationwide Corporation (Corp.). Wholly-owned subsidiaries of NLIC include
      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (NLAIC) (formerly known as
      Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company), West Coast Life Insurance
      Company (WCLIC), Employers Life Insurance Company of Wausau and
      subsidiaries (ELICW), National Casualty Company (NCC) and Nationwide
      Financial Services, Inc. (NFS).  NLIC and its subsidiaries are
      collectively referred to as "the Company."
                        
      NLIC, NLAIC, WCLIC and ELICW are life and accident and health insurers
      and NCC is a property and casualty insurer. The Company is licensed in
      all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto
      Rico. The Company offers a full range of life insurance, health insurance
      and annuity products through exclusive agents, brokers and other
      distribution channels and is subject to competition from other insurers
      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 and health 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 designed to reduce insurer
         profits, 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
         sound reinsurance and credit and collection policies and by
         providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.
        
         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)   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. See note 4.



<PAGE>   7

              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

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 December 31, 1995 consolidated financial statements include the
    accounts of NLIC and its wholly owned subsidiaries NLAIC, WCLIC, ELICW, NCC
    and NFS. The December 31, 1994 and 1993 consolidated financial statements
    include the accounts of NLIC, NLAIC, WCLIC, NCC and NFS. The December 31,
    1994 consolidated balance sheet also includes the accounts of ELICW, which
    was acquired by NLIC effective December 31, 1994. See Note 13. 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, 1995.

    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.

    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.                                      

    In March, 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
    STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 121 - ACCOUNTING FOR THE
    IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND FOR LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF
    (SFAS 121). SFAS 121 requires impairment losses to be 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. SFAS 121 also addresses
    the accounting for long-lived assets that are expected to be disposed of.
    The statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
    1995 and earlier application is permitted. Previously issued consolidated
    financial statements shall not be restated. The Company will adopt SFAS 121 
    in 1996 and the impact on the consolidated financial statements is not
    expected to be material. 


<PAGE>   8

              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(c) REVENUES AND BENEFITS

    TRADITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS: Traditional life insurance
    products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and
    benefits and consist primarily of whole life, limited-payment life, term
    life 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.

    UNIVERSAL LIFE AND INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: Universal life products include
    universal life, variable universal life and other interest-sensitive life
    insurance policies. Investment products consist primarily of individual and
    group deferred annuities, annuities without life contingencies and
    guaranteed investment contracts. Revenues for universal life and investment
    products consist of 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 benefits and claims incurred in the period in
    excess of related policy account balances and interest credited to policy
    account balances.

    ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE: 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.

(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 traditional life and
    individual health insurance 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. For
    universal life and investment 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. 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 2(b).

(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 for administrative services
    and risks assumed.

(f) FUTURE POLICY BENEFITS

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


<PAGE>   9
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    Future policy benefits and claims for collectively renewable long-term
    disability policies (primarily discounted at 5.2%) and group long-term
    disability policies (primarily discounted at 5.5%) 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.
        
(g) PARTICIPATING BUSINESS

    Participating business represents approximately 45% (45% in 1994 and
    48% in 1993) of the Company's ordinary life insurance in force, 72% (72% in
    1994 and 1993) of the number of policies in force, and 39% (41% in 1994 and
    45% in 1993) 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. Dividend scales are approved
    by the Board of Directors.

    Income attributable to participating policies in excess of policyholder
    dividends is accounted for as belonging to the shareholder. See note 12.

(h) FEDERAL INCOME TAX

    NLIC, NLAIC, WCLIC and NCC file a consolidated Federal income tax
    return with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC), the majority
    shareholder of Corp. Through 1994, ELICW filed a consolidated Federal
    income tax return with Employers Insurance of Wausau A Mutual Company.
    Beginning in 1995, ELICW files a separate Federal income tax return.

    In 1993, the Company adopted STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
    STANDARDS NO. 109 - ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES, which required a change
    from the deferred method of accounting for income tax of APB Opinion 11 to
    the asset and liability method of accounting for income tax. Under the
    asset and liability 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.

    The Company has reported the cumulative effect of the change in method
    of accounting for income tax in the 1993 consolidated statement of income.
    See note 3.

(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.

(j) CASH EQUIVALENTS

    For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company
    considers all short-term investments with original maturities of three
    months or less to be cash equivalents.


<PAGE>   10
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

         (k) RECLASSIFICATION

             Certain items in the 1994 and 1993 consolidated financial
             statements have been reclassified to conform to the 1995
             presentation.

(3)      CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

         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 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 $6,593,844
         and $7,024,736, 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                                      $ 430,892
           Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                        (97,177) 
           Deferred Federal income tax                                           (116,800) 
                                                                                ---------  
                                                                                $ 216,915 
                                                                                =========  

         During 1993, the Company adopted accounting principles in connection
         with the issuance of two accounting standards by the FASB. The effect
         as of January 1, 1993, the date of adoption, has been recognized in
         the 1993 consolidated statement of income as the cumulative effect of
         changes in accounting principles, as follows:

           Asset/liability method of recognizing income tax (note 2(h))         $ 26,344 
           Accrual method of recognizing postretirement benefits other  
             than pensions (net of tax benefit of $11,296) (note 11)             (20,979)  
                                                                                --------   
                                                                                $  5,365 
                                                                                ======== 
 </TABLE>

(4)      BASIS OF PRESENTATION

         The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
         with GAAP. Annual Statements for NLIC and NLAIC, WCLIC, ELICW and NCC,
         filed with the Department of Insurance of the State of Ohio (the
         Department), California Department of Insurance, Wisconsin Insurance
         Department and Michigan Bureau of Insurance, respectively, are prepared
         on the basis of accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such
         regulatory authorities. 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.

         The statutory capital shares and surplus of NLIC as reported to
         regulatory authorities as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was
         $1,363,031, $1,262,861 and $992,631, respectively. The statutory net
         income of NLIC as reported to regulatory authorities for the years
         ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was $86,529, $76,532 and
         $185,943, respectively.                  


<PAGE>   11
 LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(5)      INVESTMENTS

         An analysis of investment income by investment type follows for the 
         years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995             1994            1993
                                                            -------------     ------------    ------------     
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>             <C>
   Gross investment income:
    Securities available-for-sale:
     Fixed maturities                                         $  772,589         674,346              --
     Equity securities                                             1,436             550           7,230
    Fixed maturities held-to-maturity                            232,692         193,009         800,255
    Mortgage loans on real estate                                410,965         376,783         364,810
    Real estate                                                   39,222          40,280          39,684
    Short-term investments                                        12,249           6,990           5,080
    Other                                                         61,701          42,831          33,832
                                                              ----------      ----------      ----------
          Total investment income                              1,530,854       1,334,789       1,250,891
   Less investment expenses                                       47,874          45,288          46,465
                                                              ----------      ----------      ----------
          Net investment income                               $1,482,980       1,289,501       1,204,426
                                                              ==========      ==========      ==========
</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>
                                                                 1995             1994           1993      
                                                           ---------------   -------------  --------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>              <C>
    Securities available-for-sale:     
     Fixed maturities                                         $  6,792            (7,120)              --
     Equity securities                                           3,435             1,427          129,728
    Fixed maturities                                                --                --           20,225
    Mortgage loans on real estate                               (7,312)          (20,462)         (28,241)
    Real estate and other                                       (2,079)            9,771           (8,039)
                                                              --------          --------         --------
                                                              $    836           (16,384)         113,673
                                                              ========          ========         ========
</TABLE>


         The components of unrealized gains (losses) on securities 
         available-for-sale, net, were as follows as of December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1995             1994     
                                                                            ---------------   -------------
<S>                                                                           <C>              <C>
    Gross unrealized gains (losses)                                           $ 735,103         (266,618)
    Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                            (143,851)          82,525
    Deferred Federal income tax                                                (206,944)          64,425
                                                                              ---------        ---------
                                                                              $ 384,308         (119,668)
                                                                              =========        ========= 
</TABLE>

         An analysis of the change in gross unrealized gains (losses) on 
         securities available-for-sale and fixed maturities held-to-maturity
         follows for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995             1994            1993     
                                                            ---------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>            <C>
    Securities available-for-sale:
     Fixed maturities                                         $ 1,001,706       (703,851)           --
     Equity securities                                                 15         (1,990)      (128,837)
    Fixed maturities held-to-maturity                              86,477       (421,427)       223,392
                                                              -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                              $ 1,088,198     (1,127,268)        94,555
                                                              ===========    ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   12
 LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                                                 
            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>
 Fixed maturities:

  U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
    government corporations and agencies                   $   438,109        36,714            (53)       474,770
  Obligations of states and political subdivisions               9,742         1,252             (1)        10,993
  Debt securities issued by foreign governments                162,442         9,641            (66)       172,017
  Corporate securities                                       8,902,494       524,796        (30,561)     9,396,729
  Mortgage-backed securities                                 3,925,843       196,645         (9,620)     4,112,868
                                                             ---------   -----------    -----------    -----------
      Total fixed maturities                                13,438,630       769,048        (40,301)    14,167,377
 Equity securities                                              27,362         6,441            (85)        33,718
                                                            ----------   -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                           $13,465,992       775,489        (40,386)    14,201,095
                                                           ===========   ===========    ============   ===========
</TABLE>


The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale 
and fixed maturities held-to-maturity were as follows as of December 31, 1994:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Gross         Gross
                                                           Amortized     unrealized     unrealized     Estimated
                                                              cost          gains         losses       fair value
                                                         -------------  ------------- ------------- ---------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>
SECURITIES AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE 
 Fixed maturities:
  U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
      government corporations and agencies                    $  393,156        1,794       (18,941)      376,009
  Obligations of states and political subdivisions                 2,202           55           (21)        2,236
  Debt securities issued by foreign governments                  177,910          872        (9,205)      169,577
  Corporate securities                                         4,201,738       50,405      (128,698)    4,123,445
  Mortgage-backed securities                                   3,543,859       18,125      (187,345)    3,374,639
                                                              ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------
        Total fixed maturities                                 8,318,865       71,251      (344,210)    8,045,906
 Equity securities                                                18,372        6,637          (296)       24,713
                                                              ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------
                                                              $8,337,237       77,888      (344,506)    8,070,619
                                                              ==========    =========     ==========    =========

FIXED MATURITY SECURITIES HELD-TO-MATURITY
  Obligations of states and political subdivisions           $   11,613           92           (255)       11,450
  Debt securities issued by foreign governments                  16,131          111            (39)       16,203
  Corporate securities                                        3,661,043       34,180       (120,566)    3,574,657
                                                              ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------
                                                             $3,688,787       34,383       (120,860)    3,602,310
                                                              ==========    ==========    ==========    =========
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   13
                                       
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                       
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities
available-for-sale as of December 31, 1995, 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                             $   641,490         647,639
Due after one year through five years                 5,365,703       5,623,126
Due after five years through ten years                2,477,457       2,609,262
Due after ten years                                   1,028,137       1,174,482
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                      9,512,787      10,054,509
Mortgage-backed securities                            3,925,843       4,112,868
                                                    -----------     -----------
                                                    $13,438,630      14,167,377
                                                    ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

Proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale during 1995 and 1994
were $131,420 and $247,876, respectively, while proceeds from sales of
investments in fixed maturity securities during 1993 were $33,959. Gross gains
of $7,197 ($3,406 in 1994 and $2,413 in 1993) and gross losses of $2,309
($21,866 in 1994 and $39 in 1993) were realized on those sales.

During 1995, the Company transferred fixed maturity securities classified as
held-to-maturity with amortized cost of $27,929 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 $4,285.

As permitted by the FASB'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 $3,705,644, resulting in a gross
unrealized gain of $171,531.

Investments that were non-income producing for the twelve month period
preceding December 31, 1995 amounted to $28,958 ($11,513 for 1994) and
consisted of $8,228 (none in 1994) in fixed maturity securities, $14,740
($11,111 in 1994) in real estate and $5,990 ($402 in 1994) in other long-term
investments.

Real estate is presented at cost less accumulated depreciation of $30,931 in
1995 ($29,275 in 1994) and valuation allowances of $26,250 in 1995 ($27,330 in
1994).

Other long-term investments are presented net of valuation allowances of $457
as of December 31, 1995. There were no such valuation allowances as of December
31, 1994.

As of December 31, 1995, the recorded investment of mortgage loans on real
estate considered to be impaired (under STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS NO. 114, ACCOUNTING BY CREDITORS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN as amended
by STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 118, ACCOUNTING BY CREDITORS
FOR IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN - INCOME RECOGNITION AND DISCLOSURE) was $44,995,
which includes $23,975 of impaired mortgage loans on real estate for which the
related valuation allowance was $5,276 and $21,020 of impaired mortgage loans
on real estate for which there was no valuation allowance. During 1995, the
average recorded investment in impaired mortgage loans on real estate was
approximately $22,621 and interest income recognized on those loans was $416,
which is equal to interest income recognized using a cash-basis method of
income recognition.

<PAGE>   14
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    Activity in the valuation allowance account for mortgage loans on real 
    estate is summarized for the year ended December 31, 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1995
                                                              --------
    <S>                                                        <C>
    Allowance, beginning year                               $ 47,892
         Additions charged to operations                       7,653
         Direct write-downs charged against the allowance     (4,850)
                                                            -------- 
    Allowance, end of year                                  $ 50,695
                                                            ========
</TABLE>

    Foresclosures of mortgage loans on real estate were $37,187 in 1994 and
    mortgage loans on real estate in process of foreclosure or in-substance
    foreclosed as of December 31, 1994 totaled $19,878, which approximated fair
    value.

    Fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of $13,982 and $11,137 as
    of December 31, 1995 and 1994, 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 82% and 81% of the total liability for future policy benefits 
    as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The average interest rate 
    credited on investment product policies was approximately 6.5%, 6.5% and 
    7.0% for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

    The liability for future policy benefits for traditional life insurance and
    individual health insurance policies has been established based upon the
    following assumptions:

       INTEREST RATES:  Interest rates vary as follows:
       
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                   Health
          Year of issue                         Life Insurance                                    insurance
          --------------      ------------------------------------------------------------     ---------------                     
           <S>                <C>                                                                 <C>        
           1995               7.6%, not graded - permanent contracts with loan provisions         4.5%
                              7.7%, not graded - all other contracts
           1984-1994          6.0% to 10.5%, not graded                                           5.0% to 6.0%
           1966-1983          6.0% to 8.1%, graded over 20 years to 4.0% to 6.6%                  3.5% to 6.0%
           1965 and prior     generally lower than post 1965 issues                               3.5% to 4.0%
</TABLE>


    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.



<PAGE>   15
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    Activity in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses is
    summarized for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1995           1994            1993      
                                                                     ----------    ----------    ---------
      <S>                                                             <C>            <C>         <C>
      Balance, beginning of year                                      $ 637,998      592,180      760,209 
         Less reinsurance recoverables                                  438,761      430,720      547,683 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
               Net balance, beginning of year                           199,237      161,460      212,526 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
      Incurred related to:         
         Current year                                                   425,907      273,299      309,721 
         Prior years                                                    (17,203)     (26,156)     (26,248)
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
            Total incurred                                              408,704      247,143      283,473 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
      Paid related to:      
         Current year                                                   290,605      175,700      208,978 
         Prior years                                                    111,353       73,889      125,561 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
            Total paid                                                  401,958      249,589      334,539 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
      Unpaid claims of acquired companies                                 2,542       40,223         --   
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
               Net balance, end of year                                 208,525      199,237      161,460 
         Plus reinsurance recoverables                                  491,321      438,761      430,720 
                                                                      ---------    ---------    --------- 
      Balance, end of year                                            $ 699,846      637,998      592,180 
                                                                      =========    =========    ========= 
</TABLE>

    Reinsurance recoverables include amounts from affiliates, as discussed in 
    note 13, of $477,912, $430,936, $430,278 and $534,983 as of December 31, 
    1995, 1994, 1993 and 1992, respectively.

    The provision for claims and claim adjustment expenses for prior years
    decreased in each of the three years ended December 31, 1995 due to
    lower-than-anticipated costs to settle accident and health insurance claims.


(7) FEDERAL INCOME TAX

    The tax effects of temporary  differences that give rise to significant 
    components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) as of December 31, 
    1995 and 1994 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       1995            1994
                                                                                     --------       --------           
      <S>                                                                           <C>            <C>  
      Deferred tax assets:
       Future policy benefits                                                       $ 179,916      124,044
       Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale                                      --         95,536
       Liabilities in Separate Accounts                                               129,120       94,783
       Mortgage loans on real estate and real estate                                   26,062       25,632
       Other policyholder funds                                                         7,752        7,137
       Other assets and other liabilities                                              47,215       57,528
                                                                                    ---------    ---------
         Total gross deferred tax assets                                              390,065      404,660
                                                                                    ---------    ---------
      Deferred tax liabilities:   
       Deferred policy acquisition costs                                              312,616      317,224
       Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale                                   266,184         --  
       Equity securities available-for-sale and other            
          long-term investments                                                         3,431        3,620
       Other                                                                           46,711       47,301
                                                                                    ---------    ---------
         Total gross deferred tax liabilities                                         628,942      368,145
                                                                                    ---------    ---------
                                                                                    $(238,877)      36,515
                                                                                    =========    =========
</TABLE>


 

<PAGE>   16
                                
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

     The Company has determined that valuation allowances are not necessary as
     of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 based on its analysis of future 
     deductible amounts. 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. All future 
     deductible amounts can be offset by future taxable amounts or recovery of
     Federal income tax paid within the statutory carryback period. In 
     addition, for future deductible amounts for securities available-for-sale, 
     affiliates of the Company which are included in the same consolidated 
     Federal income tax return hold investments that could be sold for capital 
     gains that could offset capital losses realized by the Company should 
     securities available-for-sale be sold at a loss.

<TABLE>
     Total Federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1995, 
     1994 and 1993 differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S. 
     Federal income tax rate to income before tax as follows:
                                                                                                           
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995                      1994                    1993       
                                                         ----------------------   ----------------------   ----------------------
                                                                Amount     %            Amount     %            Amount      %
                                                         ---------------  -----   --------------  ------   -------------  -------
      <S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>
      Computed (expected) tax expense                        $ 111,906    35.0       $  95,631    35.0      $ 109,515     35.0 
      Tax exempt interest and dividends                                                                                    
         received deduction                                       (137)   (0.1)           (194)   (0.1)        (2,322)    (0.7)
      Current year increase in U.S. Federal                                                                                
         income tax rate                                            --      --              --      --          1,704      0.5 
      Other, net                                                (4,515)   (1.4)         (5,933)   (2.1)        (2,139)    (0.7)
                                                             ---------    ----       ---------    ----      ---------     ----
            Total (effective rate of each year)              $ 107,254    33.5       $  89,504    32.8      $ 106,758     34.1 
                                                             =========    ====       =========    ====      =========     ====

</TABLE>


     Total Federal income tax paid was $75,309, $87,576 and $58,286 during the 
     years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.

     Prior to 1984, the Life Insurance Company Income Tax Act of 1959 as 
     amended by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DRA), permitted the deferral 
     from taxation of a portion of statutory income under certain       
     circumstances. In these situations, the deferred income was accumulated in
     the  Policyholders' Surplus Account (PSA).  Management considers the
     likelihood  of distributions from the PSA to be remote; therefore, no
     Federal income  tax has been provided for such distributions in the
     consolidated financial  statements. The DRA eliminated any additional
     deferrals to the PSA. Any  distributions from the PSA, however, will
     continue to be taxable at the  then current tax rate. The balance of the
     PSA was approximately $35,344 as  of December 31, 1995.

(8)  DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 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.
                                    



<PAGE>   17
                                      
              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

       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 are 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.

         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 analysis. 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, universal life 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. 

<PAGE>   18

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    Carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments
    subject to SFAS 107 and policy reserves on life insurance contracts were
    as follow as of December 31, 1995 and 1994:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      
                                                     1995                          1994
                                           --------------------------   -------------------------
                                             Carrying      Estimated      Carrying     Estimated
                                              amount       fair value      amount      fair value
                                           -----------    -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>
ASSETS
- ------
Investments:
   Securities available-for-sale:
      Fixed maturities                     $14,167,377    14,167,377     8,045,906     8,045,906
      Equity securities                         33,718        33,718        24,713        24,713
   Fixed maturities held-to-maturity              --            --       3,688,787     3,602,310
   Mortgage loans on real estate             4,786,599     5,169,805     4,222,284     4,173,284
   Policy loans                                370,908       370,908       340,491       340,491
   Short-term investments                       45,732        45,732       131,643       131,643
Cash                                            10,485        10,485         7,436         7,436
Assets held in Separate Accounts            18,763,678    18,763,678    12,222,461    12,222,461

LIABILITIES
- -----------
Investment contracts                        13,561,943    13,221,724    12,189,894    11,657,556
Policy reserves on life insurance contacts   3,695,814     3,659,074     3,170,085     2,934,384
Policyholders' dividend accumulations          353,554       353,554       338,058       338,058
Other policyholder funds                        71,155        71,155        72,770        72,770
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts    18,763,678    18,224,933    12,222,461    11,807,331
</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.

    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 80% 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 $361,974 extending into 1996 were
    outstanding as of December 31, 1995.

    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 20% (22%
    in 1994) in any geographic area and no more than 2% (2% in 1994) with any
    one borrower.


<PAGE>   19

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    The summary below depicts loans by remaining principal balance as of
    December 31, 1995 and 1994:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Apartment
                                                            Office    Warehouse     Retail     & other      Total
                                                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
1995:
 East North Central                                      $ 140,732     110,361     534,814     184,201     970,108
 East South Central                                         23,978      15,653     183,790      84,588     308,009
 Mountain                                                     --        18,940     144,156      48,727     211,823
 Middle Atlantic                                           124,079      72,201     183,562      18,383     398,225
 New England                                                 9,594      39,526     153,644           1     202,765
 Pacific                                                   190,628     239,687     395,914     107,650     933,879
 South Atlantic                                            101,904      74,731     458,355     279,692     914,682
 West North Central                                        134,866      14,205      81,521      37,586     268,178
 West South Central                                         69,143      99,618     194,717     272,323     635,801
                                                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                          $ 794,924     684,922   2,330,473   1,033,151   4,843,470
                                                          =========   =========   =========   =========            
     Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                                      56,871  
                                                                                                          ---------
                Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                 $4,786,599     
                                                                                                          =========
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Apartment
                                                            Office    Warehouse     Retail     & other      Total
                                                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
1994:
 East North Central                                      $ 109,233     103,499     540,686     191,489     944,907
 East South Central                                         24,298      10,803     127,845      76,897     239,843
 Mountain                                                    3,150      13,770     140,358      39,682     196,960
 Middle Atlantic                                            61,299      53,285     140,847      30,111     285,542
 New England                                                10,536      43,282     139,131           4     192,953
 Pacific                                                   195,393     210,930     397,911      68,768     873,002
 South Atlantic                                             87,150      81,576     424,150     210,354     803,230
 West North Central                                        127,760      11,766      80,854       4,738     225,118
 West South Central                                         51,013      84,796     184,923     194,788     515,520
                                                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                          $ 669,832     613,707   2,176,705     816,831   4,277,075
                                                          =========   =========   =========   =========            
   Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                                                        54,791
                                                                                                          ---------
        Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                         $4,222,284     
                                                                                                          =========
</TABLE>


(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.


<PAGE>   20

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

    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, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were $14,105, $10,451 and $6,702,
    respectively.

    The Company's net accrued pension expense as of December 31, 1995 and       
    1994 was $1,376 and $1,836, respectively.

    The net periodic pension cost for the Nationwide Insurance Companies and    
    Affiliates Retirement Plan as a whole for the years ended December 31,
    1995, 1994 and 1993 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995          1994          1993
                                                              ---------     ---------     ---------
     <S>                                                      <C>            <C>           <C>
     Service cost (benefits earned during the period)         $  64,524        64,740        47,694
     Interest cost on projected benefit obligation               95,283        73,951        70,543
     Actual return on plan assets                              (249,294)      (21,495)     (105,002)
     Net amortization and deferral                              143,353       (62,150)       20,832
                                                               ---------     ---------     ---------
                                                              $  53,866        55,046        34,067
                                                               =========     =========     =========
</TABLE>
                       
    Basis for measurements, net periodic pension cost:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                    1995          1994          1993               
                                                                 ---------     ---------     ---------             
     <S>                                                           <C>           <C>           <C>                 
     Weighted average discount rate                                7.50%         5.75%         6.75%               
     Rate of increase in future compensation levels                6.25%         4.50%         4.75%               
     Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets              8.75%         7.00%         7.50%               
</TABLE>                                                              
                                                                    
    Information regarding the funded status of the Nationwide Insurance
    Enterprise Retirement Plan as a whole as of December 31, 1995 
    (post-merger) and the Nationwide Insurance Companies and Affiliates 
    Retirement Plan as of December 31, 1995 (pre-merger) and 1994 follows:
        
     <TABLE>                                                                  
     <CAPTION>                                                          
                                                                   Post-merger     Pre-merger                      
                                                                      1995           1995           1994           
                                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------       
     <S>                                                           <C>            <C>            <C>               
          Accumulated benefit obligation:                                                                          
                                                                                                                   
          Vested                                                   $ 1,236,730      1,002,079        914,850       
          Nonvested                                                     26,503          8,998          7,570       
                                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------       
                                                                   $ 1,263,233      1,011,077        922,420       
                                                                   ===========    ===========    ===========       
                                                                                                                   
     Net accrued pension expense:                                                                                  
        Projected benefit obligation for services rendered                                                         
           to date                                                 $ 1,780,616      1,447,522      1,305,547       
        Plan assets at fair value                                    1,738,004      1,508,781      1,241,771       
                                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------       
           Plan assets (less than) in excess of  projected                                                         
              benefit obligation                                       (42,612)        61,259        (63,776)      
        Unrecognized prior service cost                                 42,845         42,850         46,201       
        Unrecognized net (gains) losses                                (63,130)       (86,195)        39,408       
        Unrecognized net obligation (asset) at transition               41,305        (19,841)       (21,994)                     
                                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------       
                                                                   $   (21,592)        (1,927)          (161)      
                                                                   ===========    ===========    ===========       
     </TABLE>                                                           
                                                                        

<PAGE>   21

              NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
            (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)
                                      
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

     Basis for measurements, funded status of plan:
                                                                     
      <TABLE>                                                        
      <CAPTION>                                                    
                                                          Post-merger       Pre-merger                                   
                                                             1995             1995              1994                     
                                                        ---------------  ---------------   ---------------               
     <S>                                                    <C>               <C>              <C>                       
     Weighed average discount rate                           6.00%             6.00%            7.50%                     
     Rate of increase in future compensation levels          4.25%             4.25%            6.25%                     
                                                                              
     </TABLE>                                                          
                                                                    
                                                                   
     Assets of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan are invested
     in group annuity contracts of NLIC and ELICW. Prior to the merger, the     
     assets of the Nationwide Insurance Companies and Affiliates Retirement 
     Plan were invested in a group annuity contract of NLIC.       
                                                                               
(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.       

     Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted the provisions of STATEMENT
     OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 106 - EMPLOYERS' ACCOUNTING FOR 
     POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS (SFAS 106), which requires the
     accrual method of accounting for postretirement life and health care 
     insurance benefits based on actuarially determined costs to be recognized 
     over the period from the date of hire to the full eligibility date of 
     employees who are expected to qualify for such benefits.            
                                                                      
     The Company elected to immediately recognize its estimated accumulated
     postretirement benefit obligation as of January 1, 1993. Accordingly, a 
     noncash charge of $32,275 ($20,979 net of related income tax benefit) was
     recorded in the 1993 consolidated statement of income as a cumulative 
     effect of a change in accounting principle. See note 3. The adoption of    
     SFAS 106, including the cumulative effect of the change in accounting
     principle, increased the expense for postretirement benefits by $35,277 
     to $36,544 in 1993. 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, 1995 and 1994 was $51,490 and $36,001, respectively, and the
     net periodic postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) for 1995 and 1994 was 
     $8,269 and $4,627, respectively.                                           
                                                                                
     The amount of NPPBC for the plan as a whole for the years ended 
     December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was as follows:                     
                                                                      
     <TABLE>                                                          
     <CAPTION>                                                          
                                                                                   1995            1994          1993            
                                                                                 --------        --------      --------  
     <S>                                                                         <C>             <C>           <C>       
     Service cost - benefits attributed to employee service during the year      $  6,235           8,586         7,090  
     Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation                14,151          14,011        13,928  
     Actual return on plan assets                                                  (2,657)         (1,622)         --    
     Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates               2,966             568           568  
     Net amortization and deferral                                                 (1,619)          1,622          --    
                                                                                 --------        --------      --------  
                                                                                 $ 19,076          23,165        21,586  
                                                                                 ========        ========      ========  
     </TABLE>                                                                  


<PAGE>   22

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

       Information regarding the funded status of the plan as a whole as of
       December 31, 1995 and 1994 follows:                         
                                                                      
       <TABLE>                                                  
       <CAPTION>                                          
                                                                                     1995          1994                            
                                                                                   ---------    ---------                          
       <S>                                                                         <C>          <C>                                
       Accrued postretirement benefit expense:                                                                                     
          Retirees                                                                 $  88,680       76,677                          
          Fully eligible, active plan participants                                    28,793       22,013                          
          Other active plan participants                                              90,375       59,089                          
                                                                                   ---------    ---------                          
             Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)                    207,848      157,779                          
          Plan assets at fair value                                                   54,325       49,012                          
                                                                                   ---------    ---------                          
             Plan assets less than accumulated postretirement benefit obligation    (153,523)    (108,767)                         
          Unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates                             1,827        6,577                          
          Unrecognized net gains                                                      (1,038)     (41,497)                         
                                                                                   ---------    ---------                          
                                                                                   $(152,734)    (143,687)                         
                                                                                   =========    =========                          
       </TABLE>                                                     
                                                                   
                                                                      
       Actuarial assumptions used for the measurement of the APBO as of    
       December 31, 1995 and 1994 and the NPPBC for 1995, 1994 and 1993 were 
       as follows:                                                    
                                                                       
       <TABLE>                                                     
       <CAPTION>                                                     
                                                          1995          1995          1994          1994          1993             
                                                          APBO         NPPBC          APBO          NPPBC         NPPBC            
                                                       -----------   -----------   ------------  ------------  ------------        
           <S>                                           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>               
           Discount rate                                 6.75%            8%            8%            7%            8%             
           Assumed health care cost trend rate:                                                                                    
               Initial rate                                11%           10%           11%           12%           14%             
               Ultimate rate                                6%            6%            6%            6%            6%             
               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, 1995 by $641 and the NPPBC for the year ended December 31,
       1995 by $107.                                                    
                                                                      
(12)   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 subsidiaries exceed the minimum risk-based capital 
       requirements.                                                            
                                                                    
       In accordance with the requirements of the New York statutes, the 
       Company has agreed with the Superintendent of Insurance of that state 
       that so long as participating policies and contracts are held by 
       residents of New York, no profits on participating policies and 
       contracts in excess of the larger of (a) ten percent of such profits or
       (b) fifty cents per year per thousand dollars of participating life 
       insurance in force, exclusive of group term, as of the year-end shall 
       inure to the benefit of the shareholder. Such New York statutes
       further provide that so long as such agreement is in effect, such 
       excess of profits shall be exhibited as "participating policyholders' 
       surplus" in annual statements filed with the Superintendent and shall 
       be used only for the payment or apportionment of dividends to 
       participating policyholders at least to the extent required by statute 
       or for the purpose of making up any loss on  participating policies.
                                                                       
<PAGE>   23

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

      In the opinion of counsel for the Company, the ultimate ownership of the
      entire surplus, however classified, of the Company resides with the
      shareholder, subject to the usual requirements under state laws and
      regulations that certain deposits, reserves and minimum surplus be
      maintained for the protection of the policyholders until all policy
      contracts are discharged.
                
      Based on the opinion of counsel with respect to the ownership of its
      surplus, the Company is of the opinion that the earnings attributable to
      participating policies in excess of the amounts paid as dividends to
      policyholders belong to the shareholder rather than the policyholders,
      and such earnings are so treated by the Company.
                
      The amount of shareholder's equity other than capital shares was
      $2,664,697, $1,904,664 and $1,647,353 as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and
      1993, respectively. The amount thereof not presently available for
      dividends to the shareholder due to the New York restrictions was
      $1,503,241, $929,934 and $954,037 as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993,
      respectively.
                
      Ohio law limits the payment of dividends to shareholders. The maximum
      dividend that may be paid by the Company without prior approval of the
      Director of the Department is limited to the greater of statutory gain
      from operations of the preceding calendar year or 10% of statutory
      shareholder's surplus as of the prior December 31. Therefore, $2,468,687
      of shareholder's equity, as presented in the accompanying consolidated
      financial statements, is so restricted as to dividend payments in 1996.
                
      Each of NLIC's insurance company subsidiaries are limited in their
      payment of dividends by the state insurance department of their
      respective state of domicile. As of December 31, 1995, the maximum amount
      of shareholder's equity available for dividend payment to NLIC in 1996 by
      its insurance company subsidiaries without prior approval are:
                
      <TABLE>
      <S>                                             <C>
      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company   $10,143
      West Coast Life Insurance Company                13,153
      Employers Life Insurance Company of Wausau       10,132
      National Casualty Company                            --  
                                                      -------
                                                      $33,428
                                                      ======= 
</TABLE>
        

(13)  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
      ----------------------------

      On March 1, 1995, Corp. contributed all of the outstanding shares of
      Farmland Life Insurance Company (Farmland) to NLIC, which then merged
      Farmland into WCLIC effective June 30, 1995. The contribution resulted in
      a direct increase to consolidated shareholder's equity of $46,918. The
      contribution of Farmland has been accounted for in a manner similar to a
      pooling of interests and accordingly, Farmland's results are included in
      the consolidated statements of income beginning January 1, 1995. However,
      prior period consolidated financial statements have not been restated due
      to the impact of Farmland being immaterial.
                
      Effective December 31, 1994, NLIC purchased all of the outstanding shares
      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.
        
      Certain annuity products are sold through three affiliated companies
      which are also subsidiaries of Corp. Total commissions and fees paid to
      these affiliates for the three years ended December 31, 1995 were
      $57,969, $50,470 and $44,577, respectively.
        


<PAGE>   24

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

      The Company shares home office, other facilities, equipment and common
      management and administrative services with affiliates.
        
      The Company 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 1995 and
      1994 were not material. 

      During 1993, the Company sold equity securities with a market value
      $194,515 to NMIC, resulting in a realized gain of $122,823. With the
      proceeds, the Company purchased securities with a market value of
      $194,139 and cash of $376 from NMIC.                         

      Intercompany reinsurance contracts exist between NLIC and NMIC, NLIC and
      WCLIC, NLIC and NCC, WCLIC and NMIC and WCLIC and ELICW as of December
      31, 1995. These contracts are immaterial to the consolidated financial
      statements.    

      NCC participates in several 100% quota share reinsurance agreements with
      NMIC and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the minority
      shareholder of Corp. As a result of these agreements, the following
      assets and (liabilities) are included in the consolidated financial
      statements as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 for reinsurance ceded:
        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            1995          1994      
                                                                        -----------   -----------
<S>                                                                     <C>            <C>
      Reinsurance recoverable                                           $ 590,379       541,289 
      Unearned premium reserves                                          (112,467)     (110,353) 
      Liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expense           (477,912)     (430,936)
</TABLE>                                                                

      The ceding of reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer from
      primary liability to its policyholder. The insurer which assumes the
      coverage assumes the related liability and it is the practice of insurers
      to treat insured risks, to the extent of reinsurance ceded, as though
      they were risks for which the original insurer is not liable. Management
      believes the financial strength of NMIC reduces to an acceptable level
      any risk to NCC under these intercompany  reinsurance agreements.        

      ELICW assumes certain accident and health insurance business from
      Employers Insurance of Wausau A Mutual Company, an affiliate. During
      1995, total premiums assumed by ELICW under the reinsurance
      agreement were $150,622.                

      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 $21,644 and $92,531 as of December 31, 1995 and 1994,
      respectively, and are included in short-term investments on the
      accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

(14)  BANK LINES OF CREDIT
      --------------------

      As of December 31, 1995 and 1994, NLIC had $120,000 of confirmed but
      unused bank lines of credit which support a $100,000 commercial paper
      borrowing authorization.
        
(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.
        
<PAGE>   25

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation)

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(16)  SEGMENT INFORMATION
      -------------------

      The Company operates in the long-term savings, life insurance and
      accident and health insurance lines of business in the life insurance and
      property and casualty insurance industries. Long-term savings operations
      include both qualified and non-qualified annuity contracts issued to both
      individuals and groups. Life insurance operations include whole life,
      universal life, variable universal life and endowment and term life
      insurance issued to individuals and groups. Accident and health insurance
      operations also provide coverage to individuals and groups. Corporate
      primarily includes investments, and the related investment income, which
      are not specifically allocated to one of the three operating segments. In
      addition, realized gains and losses on all general account investments
      are reported as a component of the corporate segment.
        
      During 1995, 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 (loss) before
      Federal income tax expense and cumulative effect of changes in accounting
      principles for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 and
      assets as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, by business segment.
        
      <TABLE>                                                       
      <CAPTION>                                                 
                                                                                      1995           1994           1993      
                                                                                 ------------    ------------   ------------  
      <S>                                                                        <C>               <C>          <C>           
      Revenues:                                                                                                               
           Long-term savings                                                     $  1,406,241       1,125,013      1,048,045  
           Life insurance                                                             502,885         452,795        432,343  
           Accident and health insurance                                              532,383         345,545        339,764  
           Corporate                                                                  134,598         122,847        214,374  
                                                                                 ------------    ------------   ------------  
                                                                                 $  2,576,107       2,046,200      2,034,526  
                                                                                 ============    ============   ============  
                                                                                                                              
      Income (loss) before Federal income tax expense and                                                                     
          cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles:                                                              
           Long-term savings                                                          129,475          95,530         47,966  
           Life insurance                                                              63,169          46,119         36,383  
           Accident and health insurance                                              (12,521)         13,221         15,041  
           Corporate                                                                  139,609         118,360        213,511  
                                                                                 ------------    ------------   ------------  
                                                                                 $    319,732         273,230        312,901  
                                                                                 ============    ============   ============  
      Assets:                                                                                                                 
           Long-term savings                                                       34,634,892      25,815,273     20,695,598  
           Life insurance                                                           3,675,581       3,231,651      2,897,574  
           Accident and health insurance                                              307,643         291,296        297,200  
           Corporate                                                                1,995,995       1,773,913      1,515,989  
                                                                                 ------------    ------------   ------------  
                                                                                 $ 40,614,111      31,112,133     25,406,361  
                                                                                 ============    ============   ============  
                                                                                                                              

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   26



                                                                      Schedule I
                                                                     -----------

               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
       Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties
                               December 31, 1995
                                (000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------  ------------------
                                                                         Column B         Column C           Column D
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------  ---------------
                                                                                                         Amount at which
                                                                                                           shown in the
                                                                                                           consolidated
                                                                           Cost         Market value      balance sheet
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------- -------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>              <C>              <C>
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:                                
   Bonds and notes:                                                 
      U.S. Government and government agencies and authorities          $  3,913,961         4,116,744          4,116,744
      States, municipalities and political subdivisions                       9,742            10,993             10,993
      Foreign governments                                                   162,442           172,016            172,016
      Public utilities                                                    2,053,701         2,146,000          2,146,000
      All other corporate                                                 7,298,784         7,721,624          7,721,624
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------- -------------------
          Total fixed maturities available-for-sale                      13,438,630        14,167,377         14,167,377   
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------- -------------------
Equity securities available-for-sale:
   Common stocks:
      Industrial, miscellaneous and all other                                26,037            32,474             32,474
   Non-redeemable preferred stock                                             1,325             1,244              1,244   
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------- -------------------
          Total equity securities available-for-sale                         27,362            33,718             33,718   
                                                                     ----------------- ---------------- -------------------

Mortgage loans on real estate                                             4,838,432                            4,786,599*
Real estate:
   Investment properties                                                    213,340                              171,739*
   Acquired in satisfaction of debt                                          82,930                               67,350*
Policy loans                                                                370,908                              370,908
Other long-term investments                                                  73,190                               67,280#
Short-term investments                                                       45,732                               45,732   
                                                                     -----------------                  -------------------
          Total investments                                             $19,090,524                           19,710,703   
                                                                     =================                  ===================
</TABLE>


*        Difference from Column B is primarily due to accumulated depreciation
         and valuation allowances due to impairments on real estate and
         valuation allowances due to impairments on mortgage loans on real
         estate. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations and note 5 to the consolidated
         financial statements.

#        Difference from Column B is primarily due to operating losses of
         investments in limited partnerships.


See accompanying independent auditors' report.

<PAGE>   27
                                      
                                      
                                                                   Schedule III
                                                                   ------------
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Supplementary Insurance Information
                        December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------
             Column A                  Column B          Column C            Column D           Column E          Column F    
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------
                                       Deferred       Future policy                           Other policy
                                        policy      benefits, losses,                          claims and
             Segment                 acquisition        claims and      Unearned premiums   benefits payable      Premium
                                        costs         loss expenses            (1)                 (2)            revenue
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------
<S>                                <C>            <C>                  <C>                  <C>                <C>
1995: Long-term savings                $   668,784          14,847,449                                    455               -
      Life insurance                       416,209           2,494,344                                408,990         274,957
      Accident and health                  
       insurance                             9,202             858,335                                 15,264         509,658
      Corporate                                  -                   -                                      -               -  
                                    -------------- ---------------------                    ------------------ ---------------
             Total                      $1,094,195          18,200,128                                424,709         784,615 
                                    ============== =====================                    ================== ===============

1994: Long-term savings                    663,696          13,300,015                                    240               -
      Life insurance                       387,486           2,245,375                                397,174         209,538
      Accident and health              
       insurance                            12,977             776,071                                 13,414         324,524
      Corporate                                  -                   -                                      -               -   
                                    -------------- ---------------------                    ------------------ ---------------
             Total                      $1,064,159          16,321,461                                410,828         534,062 
                                    ============== =====================                    ================== ===============

1993: Long-term savings                    506,243          11,308,024                                  1,262               -
      Life insurance                       291,683           2,047,844                                378,788         215,715
      Accident and health              
       insurance                            14,018             736,387                                 14,595         312,655
      Corporate                                  -                   -                                      -               -    
                                    -------------- ---------------------                    ------------------ ---------------
             Total                     $   811,944          14,092,255                                394,645         528,370 
                                    ============== =====================                    ================== ===============
                                   
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------  -----------------  --------------
             Column A                  Column G          Column H            Column I           Column J          Column K    
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------
                                         Net                                Amortization           Other
                                      investment    Benefits, claims,       of deferred          operating 
             Segment                    income          losses and            policy              expenses         Premiums
                                         (3)       settlement expenses   acquisition costs          (3)             written
- ----------------------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------

1995: Long-term savings                 $1,124,207           1,009,632             51,998             210,525
      Life insurance                       202,285             267,123             34,124              94,461
      Accident and health              
       insurance                            22,725             379,532              6,922             153,984         473,513       
      Corporate                            133,763                   -                  -                   - 
                                    -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------
             Total                      $1,482,980           1,656,287             93,044             458,970 
                                    ============== ==================== =================== ==================

1994: Long-term savings                    945,318             807,756             56,236             171,038
      Life insurance                       183,933             237,125             33,394              90,535
      Accident and health                                                                                            
       insurance                           21,020             234,882              5,114              90,829         315,688
      Corporate                            139,230                   -                  -                   - 
                                    -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------
             Total                      $1,289,501           1,279,763             94,744             352,402 
                                    ============== ==================== =================== ==================

1993: Long-term savings                    897,639             800,385             43,291             157,046
      Life insurance                       178,978             227,786             35,220              89,496
      Accident and health                                                                                            
       insurance                            27,108             208,735             23,623              82,854        263,117
      Corporate                            100,701                   -                  -                   - 
                                    -------------- -------------------- ------------------- ------------------
             Total                      $1,204,426           1,236,906            102,134             329,396 
                                    ============== ==================== =================== ==================

<FN>
(1)  Unearned premiums are included in Column C amounts.        (3)  Allocations of net investment income and certain general
(2)  Column E agrees to the sum of the consolidated balance          expenses are based on a number of assumptions and
     sheet captions, "Policyholders' dividend                        estimates, and reported operating results would
     accumulations" and "Other policyholder funds".                  change by segment if different methods were applied.
</TABLE>

See accompanying independent auditors' report.

<PAGE>   28


                                                                     Schedule IV
                                                                     -----------
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                  Reinsurance
                  Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              Percentage
                                                        Ceded to         Assumed from                         of amount
                                   Gross amount      other companies   other companies      Net amount      assumed to net 
                                ------------------- ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------------
<S>                    <C>         <C>                    <C>                  <C>            <C>                 <C>
1995:
Life insurance in force              $51,613,116          6,865,011            742,451        45,490,556           1.6%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============

Premiums:
   Life insurance                        281,687             12,817              6,087           274,957           2.2%
   Accident and health                   
     insurance                           427,943             73,131            154,846           509,658          30.4%
                                ------------------- ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------------
          Total                    $     709,630             85,948            160,933           784,615          20.5%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============
1994:
Life insurance in force              $46,262,595          5,289,259            819,799        41,793,135           2.0%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============
Premiums:
   Life insurance                        209,918              7,551              7,171           209,538           3.4%
   Accident and health                   
     insurance                           389,573             69,095              4,046           324,524           1.2%
                                ------------------- ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------------
          Total                    $     599,491             76,646             11,217           534,062           2.1%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============

1993:
Life insurance in force              $39,417,116          4,352,071            180,739        35,245,784           0.5%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============
Premiums:
   Life insurance                        218,764              6,161              3,112           215,715           1.4%
   Accident and health                   
     insurance                           398,289             88,506              2,872           312,655           0.9%
                                ------------------- ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------------
          Total                    $     617,053             94,667              5,984           528,370           1.1%    
                                =================== ================== ================= ================== ===============
</TABLE>


See accompanying independent auditors' report.

<PAGE>   29


                                                                      Schedule V
                                                                      ----------
               NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
                  Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
                                (000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------------- ------------- -------------
                    Column A                         Column B               Column C               Column D      Column E   
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------------- ------------- -------------
                                                    Balance at     Charged to                                   Balance at
                                                   beginning of     costs and      Charged to     Deductions      end of  
Description                                           period        expenses     other accounts      (1)          period  
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
<S>                                                    <C>             <C>                  <C>       <C>           <C>
1995:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities       $     -         10,153               -         10,153             -
Valuation  allowances  - mortgage  loans on real        
  estate                                                47,892          7,653               -          4,850        50,695
Valuation allowances - real estate                      27,330         (1,080)              -              -        26,250
Valuation allowances - other long-term                
  investments                                                -            457               -              -           457


1994:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities         6,680         (6,680)              -              -             -
Valuation  allowances  - mortgage loans on real         
  estate                                                42,350         21,672               -         16,130        47,892
Valuation allowances - real estate                      31,357         (4,027)              -              -        27,330


1993:
Valuation allowances - fixed maturity securities         5,746            934               -              -         6,680
Valuation  allowances - mortgage loans on real        
  estate                                                31,872         28,241               -         17,763        42,350
Valuation allowances - real estate                      35,471         (4,114)              -              -        31,357
Valuation allowances - other long-term           
  investments                                              700           (700)              -              -             -

<FN>

(1)  Amounts represent direct write-downs charged against the valuation
     allowance.

</TABLE>


See accompanying independent auditors' report.


<PAGE>   43

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

              (a) Financial Statements:

   
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>                                                                                <C>

                  (1) Financial statements and schedule included                                PAGE
                      in Prospectus
                      (Part A):

                      Condensed Financial Information                                             11

                  (2) Financial statement included in Part B
                      as required by Item 23.                                                     41

              Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account:

                      Independent Auditors' Report.                                               41

                      Statement of Assets, Liabilities and
                      Contract Owners' Equity as of December 31, 1995.                            42

                      Statement of Operations and Changes in
                      Contract Owners' Equity for the year
                      ended December 31, 1995.                                                    44

                      Notes to Financial Statements.                                              45

                      Schedules of Changes in Unit Value.                                         47

              Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

                      Independent Auditors' Report.                                               49

                      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December                                  50
                      31, 1995 and 1994.

                      Consolidated Statements of Income for the                                   51
                      years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and
                      1993.

                      Consolidated Statements of Shareholder's                                    52

                      Equity for the years ended December 31,
                      1995, 1994 and 1993.

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for                                   53
                      the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994
                      and 1993.

                      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                                 54

                      Schedule I - Summary of Investments - Other Than

                      Investments in Related Parties                                              74

                      Schedule III - Supplementary Insurance Information                          75

                      Schedule IV - Reinsurance                                                   76

                      Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                              77
</TABLE>
    

                                    78 of 96
<PAGE>   44
Item 24.      (b) Exhibits

                       (1)   Resolution of Depositor's Board of Directors 
                             authorizing the establishment of the Registrant. -
                             Filed previously with the Registration Statement
                             (File No. 33-82174) on November 8, 1994, and hereby
                             incorporated by reference.

                         (2) Not Applicable

                         (3) Form of the Underwriting or Distribution contracts
                             between the Registrant and the Principal
                             Underwriter. - Filed previously with the
                             Registration Statement (File No. 33-82174) on
                             November 8, 1994, and hereby incorporated by
                             reference.

                         (4) The form of the variable annuity contract. - Filed
                             previously with the Registration Statement (File
                             No. 33-82174) on November 8, 1994, and hereby 
                             incorporated by reference.

                         (5) The variable annuity application. - Filed 
                             previously with the Registration Statement (File
                             No. 33-82174) on November 8, 1994, and hereby
                             incorporated by reference.

                         (6) Articles of Incorporation of the Depositor. - 
                             Filed previously with the Registration Statement
                             (File No. 33-82174) on November 8, 1994, and hereby
                             incorporated by reference.

                         (7) Not Applicable

                         (8) Not Applicable

                         (9) Opinion of Counsel - Filed previously with the 
                             Registration Statement (File No. 33-82174) on
                             November 8, 1994, and hereby incorporated by
                             reference.

                       (10)  Not Applicable

                       (11)  Not Applicable

                       (12)  Not Applicable

                       (13)  Computation of Performance Quotations - Filed
                             previously with the Registration Statement (File
                             No. 33-82174) on November 8, 1994, and hereby
                             incorporated by reference.

                                    79 of 96
<PAGE>   45
Item 25.      DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DEPOSITOR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           NAME AND PRINCIPAL                             POSITIONS AND OFFICES
                            BUSINESS ADDRESS                                 WITH DEPOSITOR
<S>                                                            <C>
                          Lewis J. Alphin                                        Director
                          519 Bethel Church Road
                          Mount Olives, NC  28365

   
                          Keith W. Eckel                                         Director
                          1647 Falls Road
                          Clarks Summit, PA 18411
    

                          Willard J. Engel                                       Director
                          1100 East Main Street
                          Marshall, MN 56258

                          Fred C. Finney                                         Director
                          1558 West Moreland Road
                          Wooster, OH 44691

                          Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr.                              Director
                          600 South Washington Street
                          Butler, PA  16001

   
                          Joseph J. Gasper                         President and Chief Operating Officer
                          One Nationwide Plaza                                 and Director
                          Columbus, OH  43215
    

                          Henry S. Holloway                                   Chairman of the
                          1247 Stafford Road                                       Board
                          Darlington, MD  21034

   
                          D. Richard McFerson                      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                        Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
                          Columbus, OH  43215                                  and Director
    

                          David O. Miller                                        Director
                          115 Sprague Drive
                          Hebron, Ohio  43025

                          C. Ray Noecker                                         Director
                          2770 State Route 674 South
                          Ashville, OH 43103

                          James F. Patterson                                     Director
                          8765 Mulberry Road
                          Chesterland, OH  44026
</TABLE>


                                    80 of 96
<PAGE>   46
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           NAME AND PRINCIPAL                             POSITIONS AND OFFICES
                            BUSINESS ADDRESS                                 WITH DEPOSITOR
<S>                                                        <C>
   
                          Arden L. Shisler                                       Director
                          1356 North Wenger Road
                          Dalton, OH  44618
    

                          Robert L. Stewart                                      Director
                          88740 Fairview Road
                          Jewett, OH  43986

                          Nancy C. Thomas                                        Director
                          10835 Georgetown Street NE
                          Louisville, OH  44641

                          Harold W. Weihl                                        Director
                          14282 King Road
                          Bowling Green, OH  43402

                          Gordon E. McCutchan                            Executive Vice President,
                          One Nationwide Plaza                          Law and Corporate Services
                          Columbus, OH  43215                                  and Secretary

   
                          Robert A. Oakley                               Executive Vice President-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                            Chief Financial Officer
                          Columbus, Ohio  43215

                          James E. Brock                                  Senior Vice President -
                          One Nationwide Plaza                            Life Company Operations
                          Columbus, OH  43215
    

                          W. Sidney Druen                            Senior Vice President and General
                          One Nationwide Plaza                        Counsel and Assistant Secretary
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Harvey S. Galloway, Jr.                  Senior Vice President-Chief Actuary-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                          Life, Health and Annuities
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Richard A. Karas                            Senior Vice President - Sales -
                          One Nationwide Plaza                              Financial Services
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Michael D. Bleiweiss                                Vice President-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                             Deferred Compensation
                          Columbus, OH  43215
</TABLE>

                                    81 of 96
<PAGE>   47
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           NAME AND PRINCIPAL                             POSITIONS AND OFFICES
                            BUSINESS ADDRESS                                 WITH DEPOSITOR
<S>                                                               <C>
                          Matthew S. Easley                                  Vice President -
                          One Nationwide Plaza                         Annuity and Pension Actuarial
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Ronald L. Eppley                                    Vice President-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                                   Pensions
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Timothy E. Murphy                                   Vice President-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                              Strategic Marketing
                          Columbus, Ohio  43215

                          R. Dennis Noice                                     Vice President-
                          One Nationwide Plaza                        Individual Investment Products
                          Columbus, OH  43215

                          Joseph P. Rath                                     Vice President -
                          One Nationwide Plaza                           Associate General Counsel
                          Columbus, OH  43215
</TABLE>

Item 26.      PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE DEPOSITOR
              OR REGISTRANT.

                *     Subsidiaries for which separate financial statements are
                      filed

                **    Subsidiaries included in the respective consolidated 
                      financial statements

                ***   Subsidiaries included in the respective group financial
                      statements filed for unconsolidated subsidiaries

                ****  other subsidiaries



                                    82 of 96
<PAGE>   48
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NO. VOTING
                                                                        SECURITIES
                                                       STATE           (SEE ATTACHED
                                                  OF ORGANIZATION      CHART) UNLESS
                        COMPANY                                          OTHERWISE                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                         INDICATED
<S>                                            <C>                   <C>               <C>     
         Affiliate Agency of Ohio, Inc.                 Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency

         Affiliate Agency, Inc.                       Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency

         Allnations, Inc.                               Ohio                           Promotes cooperative insurance corporations
                                                                                       worldwide
         American Marine Underwriters, Inc.           Florida                          Underwriting Manager

         Auto Direkt Insurance Company                Germany                          Insurance Company

         The Beak and Wire Corporation                  Ohio                           Radio Tower Joint Venture

         California Cash Management Company          California                        Investment Securities Agent

         Colonial County Mutual insurance              Texas                           Insurance Company
         Company

         Colonial Insurance Company of               California                        Insurance Company
         California

         Columbus Insurance Brokerage and             Germany                          Insurance Broker
         Service GMBH

         Companies Agency Insurance Services         California                        Insurance  Broker
         of California

         Companies Agency of Alabama, Inc.            Alabama                          Insurance Broker

         Companies Agency of Idaho, Inc.               Idaho                           Insurance Broker

         Companies Agency of Illinois, Inc.           Illinois                         Acts as Collection Agent for Policies placed
                                                                                       through Brokers
         Companies Agency of Kentucky, Inc.           Kentucky                         Insurance Broker

         Companies Agency of Massachusetts,        Massachusetts                       Insurance Broker
         Inc.

         Companies Agency of New York, Inc.           New York                         Insurance Broker

         Companies Agency of Pennsylvania, Inc.     Pennsylvania                       Insurance Broker

         Companies Agency of Phoenix, Inc.            Arizona                          Insurance Broker
   
         Companies Agency of Texas, Inc.               Texas                           Insurance Broker

         Companies Annuity Agency of Texas,            Texas                           Insurance Broker
         Inc.
    
         Companies Agency, Inc.                      Wisconsin                         Insurance Broker

         Companies Annuity Agency of Texas,            Texas                           Insurance Broker
         Inc.

         Countrywide Services Corporation             Delaware                         Products Liability, Investigative and Claims
                                                                                       Management Services
         Employers Insurance of Wausau A             Wisconsin                         Insurance Company
         Mutual Company
</TABLE>

                                    83 of 96
<PAGE>   49
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NO. VOTING
                                                                        SECURITIES
                                                       STATE           (SEE ATTACHED
                                                  OF ORGANIZATION      CHART) UNLESS
                        COMPANY                                          OTHERWISE                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                         INDICATED
<S>                                             <C>                   <C>              <C>
     **  Employers Life Insurance Company of         Wisconsin                         Life Insurance Company
         Wausau

         F & B, Inc.                                    Iowa                           Insurance Agency

         Farmland Mutual Insurance Company              Iowa                           Insurance Company
   
         Financial Horizons Distributors              Alabama                          Life Insurance Agency
    
         Agency of Alabama, Inc.
   
         Financial Horizons Distributors                Ohio                           Insurance Agency
    
         Agency of Ohio
         Financial Horizons Distributors              Oklahoma                         Life Insurance Agency

         Agency of Oklahoma, Inc.
   
         Financial Horizons Distributors               Texas                           Life Insurance Agency

         Agency of Texas, Inc.
    

   
      *  Financial Horizons Investment Trust       Massachusetts                       Investment Company
    

         Financial Horizons Securities                Oklahoma                         Broker Dealer
         Corporation

         Gates, McDonald & Company                      Ohio                           Cost Control Business
   

         Gates, McDonald & Company of Nevada           Nevada                          Self-Insurance Administration Claims
                                                                                       Examinations and Data Processing Services
    

   
         Gates, McDonald & Company of New             New York                         Workers Compensation Claims Administration
         York, Inc.
    
         Greater La Crosse Health Plans, Inc.        Wisconsin                         Writes Commercial Health and Medicare
                                                                                       Supplement Insurance
         InHealth Agency, Inc.                          Ohio                           Insurance Agency

         InHealth Management Systems, Inc.              Ohio                           Develops and operates Managed Care Delivery
                                                                                       System
         Insurance Intermediaries, Inc.                 Ohio                           Insurance Broker and Insurance Agency

         Key Health Plan, Inc.                       California                        Pre-paid health plans
   
         Landmark Financial Services of New           New York                         Life Insurance Agency
         York, Inc.

         Leben Direkt Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company
    
         Lone Star General Agency, Inc.                Texas                           Insurance Agency

     **  MRM Investments, Inc.                          Ohio                           Owns and operates a Recreational Ski Facility

     **  National Casualty Company                    Michigan                         Insurance Company
   
         National Casualty Company of America,     Great Britain                       Insurance Company
         Ltd.
    
     **  National Premium and Benefit                 Delaware                         Insurance Administrative Services
         Administration Company

         Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance              Iowa                           Insurance Company
         Company

         Nationwide Cash Management Company             Ohio                           Investment Securities Agent
</TABLE>

                                    84 of 96
<PAGE>   50
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NO. VOTING
                                                                        SECURITIES
                                                       STATE           (SEE ATTACHED
                                                  OF ORGANIZATION      CHART) UNLESS
                        COMPANY                                          OTHERWISE                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                         INDICATED
<S>                                           <C>                    <C>               <C>
         Nationwide Communications, Inc.                Ohio                           Radio Broadcasting Business

         Nationwide Community Urban                     Ohio                           Redevelopment of blighted areas within the
         Redevelopment Corporation                                                     City of Columbus, Ohio

         Nationwide Corporation                         Ohio                           Organized for the purpose of acquiring,
                                                                                       holding, encumbering, transferring, or
                                                                                       otherwise disposing of shares, bonds,
                                                                                       and other evidences of indebtedness,
                                                                                       securities, and contracts of other
                                                                                       persons, associations, corporations,
                                                                                       domestic or foreign and to form or
                                                                                       acquire the control of other corporations
         Nationwide Development Company                 Ohio                           Owns, leases and manages commercial real 
                                                                                       estate
         Nationwide Financial Institution             Delaware                         Insurance Agency
         Distributors Agency, Inc.

     **  Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.            Ohio                           Registered Broker-Dealer, Investment Manager
                                                                                       and Administrator
         Nationwide General Insurance Company           Ohio                           Insurance Company
   
         Nationwide HMO, Inc.                           Ohio                           Health Maintenance Organization
    
      *  Nationwide Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Reinsurance Company

         Nationwide Insurance Enterprise                Ohio                           Membership Non-Profit Corporation
         Foundation

         Nationwide Insurance Golf Charities,           Ohio                           Membership Non-Profit Corporation
         Inc.

         Nationwide Investing Foundation              Michigan                         Investment Company

      *  Nationwide Investing                      Massachusetts                       Investment Company
         Foundation II
   
         Nationwide Investment Services               Oklahoma                         Registered Broker-Dealer in Deferred
         Corporation                                                                   Compensation Market
    
         Nationwide Investors Services, Inc.            Ohio                           Stock Transfer Agent

     **  Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance          Ohio                           Life Insurance Company
         Company

     **  Nationwide Life Insurance Company              Ohio                           Life Insurance Company
   
         Nationwide Lloyds                             Texas                           Texas Lloyds Company
    
         Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance               Ohio                           Insurance Company
         Company

         Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company            Ohio                           Insurance Company
   
         Nationwide Property and Casualty               Ohio                           Insurance Company
    
         Insurance Company

     **  Nationwide Property Management, Inc.           Ohio                           Owns, leases, manages and deals in Real
                                                                                       Property
</TABLE>


                                    85 of 96
<PAGE>   51
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NO. VOTING
                                                                        SECURITIES
                                                       STATE           (SEE ATTACHED
                                                  OF ORGANIZATION      CHART) UNLESS
                        COMPANY                                          OTHERWISE                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                         INDICATED
<S>                                              <C>                   <C>             <C>
      *  Nationwide Separate Account Trust         Massachusetts                       Investment Company

         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Alabama                          Life Insurance Agency
         Alabama, Inc.
   
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Arizona                          Life Insurance Agency
         Arizona, Inc.
    
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of     Massachusetts                       Life Insurance Agency
         Massachusetts, Inc.
   
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Montana                          Life Insurance Agency
         Montana, Inc.

         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of         Nevada                          Life Insurance Agency
         Nevada, Inc.
    
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of          Ohio                           Life Insurance Agency
         Ohio, Inc.

         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Oklahoma                         Life Insurance Agency
         Oklahoma, Inc.

         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of         Texas                           Life Insurance Agency
         Texas, Inc.
   
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services of        Wyoming                          Life Insurance Agency
         Wyoming
    
         NEA Valuebuilder Investor Services,          Delaware                         Life Insurance Agency
         Inc.
   
         NEA Valuebuilder Services Insurance       Massachusetts                       Life Insurance Agency
         Agency, Inc.
    
         Neckura General Insurance Company            Germany                          Insurance Company

         Neckura Holding Company                      Germany                          Administrative Service for Neckura 
                                                                                       Insurance Group
         Neckura Insurance Company                    Germany                          Insurance Company

         Neckura Life Insurance Company               Germany                          Life Insurance Company

         NWE, Inc.                                      Ohio                           Special Investments

         PEBSCO of Massachusetts Insurance         Massachusetts                       Markets and Administers Deferred 
         Agency, Inc.                                                                  Compensation
                                                                                       Plans for Public Employees

         PEBSCO of Texas, Inc.                         Texas                           Markets and Administers Deferred
                                                                                       Compensation
                                                                                       Plans for Public Employees
         Pension Associates of Wausau, Inc.          Wisconsin                         Pension plan administration, record keeping
                                                                                       and consulting and compensation consulting
         Public Employees Benefit Services            Delaware                         Marketing and Administration of Deferred
         corporation                                                                   Employee Compensation Plans for Public
                                                                                       Employees
         Public Employees Benefit Services            Alabama                          Markets and Administers Deferred Compensation
         Corporation of Alabama                                                        Plans for Public Employees
</TABLE>


                                    86 of 96
<PAGE>   52
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NO. VOTING
                                                                        SECURITIES
                                                       STATE           (SEE ATTACHED
                                                  OF ORGANIZATION      CHART) UNLESS
                        COMPANY                                          OTHERWISE                   PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                         INDICATED
<S>                                              <C>                  <C>              <C>
         Public Employees Benefit Services            Arkansas                         Markets and Administers Deferred 
         Corporation of Arkansas                                                       Compensation Plans for Public Employees

         Public Employees Benefit Services            Montana                          Markets and Administers Deferred 
         Corporation of Montana                                                        Compensation Plans for Public Employees

         Public Employees Benefit Services           New Mexico                        Markets and Administers Deferred 
         Corporation of New Mexico                                                     Compensation Plans for Public Employees

         Scottsdale Indemnity Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

         Scottsdale Insurance Company                   Ohio                           Insurance Company

         SVM Sales GmbH, Neckura Insurance            Germany                          Sales support for Neckura Insurance Group
         Group

         Wausau Business Insurance Company            Illinois                         Insurance Company

         Wausau General Insurance Company             Illinois                         Insurance Company
   
         Wausau Insurance Company (U.K.)           United Kingdom                      Insurance and Reinsurance Company
         Limited
    
         Wausau International Underwriters           California                        Special Risks, Excess and Surplus Lines
                                                                                       Insurance Underwriting Manager
     **  Wausau Preferred Health Insurance           Wisconsin                         Insurance and Reinsurance Company
         Company

         Wausau Service Corporation                  Wisconsin                         Holding Company

         Wausau Underwriters Insurance Company       Wisconsin                         Insurance Company

     **  West Coast Life Insurance Company           California                        Life Insurance Company
</TABLE>

                                    87 of 96
<PAGE>   53
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          NO. VOTING 
                                                                          SECURITIES
                                                       STATE         (SEE ATTACHED CHART) 
                                                        OF             UNLESS OTHERWISE 
                      COMPANY                       ORGANIZATION           INDICATED                     PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
                                                                                                     
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>                             <C>
      *  MFS Variable Account                           Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  NACo Variable Account                          Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide DC Variable                         Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
   
      *  Separate Account No. 1                         Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
    
      *  Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account         Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-A               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Separate Account
      *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-B               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Separate Account
         Nationwide VA Separate Account-C               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Separate Account
      *  Nationwide VA Separate Account-Q               Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Separate Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account                    Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-II                 Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-3                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-4                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-5                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable           Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
         Account                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-6                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide Variable Account-8                  Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Annuity Contracts
                                                                     Account
      *  Nationwide VL Separate                         Ohio         Nationwide Life and Annuity     Issuer of Life Insurance
         Account-A                                                   Separate Account                Contracts
      *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account                Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance
                                                                     Account                         Contracts
      *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2              Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance
                                                                     Account                         Contracts
      *  Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3              Ohio         Nationwide Life Separate        Issuer of Life Insurance
                                                                     Account                         Contracts
</TABLE>

                                    88 of 96

<PAGE>   54

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE                                        (left side}
 ______________________
| NATIONWIDE INSURANCE |            
| GOLF CHARITIES, INC. |
|                      |
|     MEMBERSHIP       |
|     NONPROFIT        |
|    CORPORATION       |
|______________________|
<S>                                      <C>                                           <C>
 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
|                               EMPLOYERS INSURANCE OF WAUSAU                                    |         
|                                    A MUTUAL COMPANY                                            |       
|                                      (EMPLOYERS)                                               |_________________________________
|                         Contribution Note          Cost                                        |_________________________________
|                         -----------------          ----                                        |         
|                         Casualty                   $400,000,000                                |              
|________________________________________________________________________________________________|              
                 |                                    |
    _____________|_________________      _____________|__________________       _____________________       __________________
   |      WAUSAU INSURANCE CO.     |    |        WAUSAU SERVICE          |     |                     |     |                  |
   |        (U.K.) LIMITED         |    |      CORPORATION (WSC)         |     |                     |     |                  |
   |                               |    |                                |     |  NATIONWIDE  LLOYDS |     |    COMPANIES     |
   |  Common Stock:   8,506,800    |    |   Common Stock:   1,000        |     |                     |     |                  |
   |  -------------   Shares       |    |   -------------   Shares       |_____|                     |_____|    AGENCY OF     |
   |                               |    |                                |_____|                     |_____|                  |
   |                  Cost         |    |                   Cost         |     |                     |     |    TEXAS, INC.   |
   |                  ----         |    |                   ----         |     |    A TEXAS LLOYDS   |     |                  |
   |  Employers--                  |    |   Employers--                  |     |                     |     |                  |
   |  100%            $15,683,300  |    |   100%            $106,763,000 |     |                     |     |                  |
   |_______________________________|    |________________________________|     |_____________________|     |__________________|
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |        WAUSAU BUSINESS       |
                                                        |    |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  10,900,000   |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 -----        |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $21,800,000  |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS    |
                                                        |    |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  8,750        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                  Cost        |
                                                        |    |                  ----        |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%        $44,560,006 |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       GREATER LA CROSSE      |
                                                        |    |       HEALTH PLANS, INC.     |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  3,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-33.3%      $861,761     |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |       OF ALABAMA, INC.       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $100         |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |











                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |       OF KENTUCKY, INC.      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  ------------   Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |     OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.    |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $100         |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |     OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.   |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |       OF NEW YORK, INC.      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |       OF PHOENIX, INC.       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |         OF IDAHO, INC.       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |     COUNTRYWIDE SERVICES     |
                                                        |    |          CORPORATION         |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  100          |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $145,852     |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |










                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |         WAUSAU GENERAL       |
                                                        |    |       INSURANCE COMPANY      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  200,000      |                    
                                                        |____|  ------------   Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $31,000,000  |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |     WAUSAU INTERNATIONAL     |
                                                        |    |         UNDERWRITERS         |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $10,000      |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |      INSURANCE SERVICES      |
                                                        |    |        OF CALIFORNIA         |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |____|  Common Stock:  1,000        |                    
                                                        |    |  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $1,000       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |      
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |        AMERICAN MARINE       |
                                                        |    |       UNDERWRITERS, INC.     |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  20           |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $248,222     |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________
                                                        |    |       COMPANIES AGENCY       |
                                                        |    |       OF ILLINOIS, INC.      |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  250          |                    
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |
                                                        |    |                              |
                                                        |    |                 Cost         |
                                                        |    |                 ----         |
                                                        |    |  WSC-100%       $2,500       |
                                                        |    |______________________________|                             
                                                        |
                                                        |     ______________________________      _____________________________
                                                        |    |    COMPANIES AGENCY, INC.    |    |     PENSION ASSOCIATES      |  
                                                        |    |                              |    |       OF WAUSAU, INC.       |
                                                        |    |                              |    |                             |
                                                        |    |  Common Stock:  100          |    |  Common Stock:  1,000       |
                                                        |____|  -------------  Shares       |____|  -------------  Shares      |
                                                             |                              |    |                             |
                                                             |                 Cost         |    |  Companies        Cost      |
                                                             |                 ----         |    |  Agency, Inc.     ----      |
                                                             |  WSC-100%       $10,000      |    |  (Wisconsin) --   $10,000   |
                                                             |______________________________|    |  100%                       |  
                                                                                                 |_____________________________|
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   55


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE                                (right side)
<S>                                         <C>                                  <C>             <C>
                                                                                            _________________________________
                                                                                           |                                 |
                                                                                           |       NATIONWIDE INSURANCE      |
                                                                                           |      ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION      |
                                                                                           |                                 | 
                                                                                           |            MEMBERSHIP           |
                                                                                           |            NONPROFIT            |
                                                                                           |           CORPORATION           |
                                                                                           |_________________________________|      
                                                       
    _________________________________________                                               ___________________________
   |                                         |                                             |                           |
___|           NATIONWIDE MUTUAL             |_____________________________________________|     NATIONWIDE MUTUAL     |
___|           INSURANCE COMPANY             |_____________________________________________|  FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY   |
   |              (CASUALTY)                 |                                             |          (FIRE)           |
   |_________________________________________|                                             |___________________________|        
                  |                 ||  |________________________________________________________________        |
                  |                 ||  |                                                                |       |
    ______________|_______________  ||  |    _____________________________                  _____________|_______|______________
   |                              | ||  |   |                             |                |                                    |
   |      ALLNATIONS, INC.        | ||  |   |      NATIONWIDE GENERAL     |                |            NATIONWIDE              |
   |                              | ||  |   |      INSURANCE COMPANY      |                |            CORPORATION             |
   | Common Stock:  2,936         | ||  |   |                             |                |                                    |
   | -------------  Shares        | ||  |   | Common Stock: 20,000 Shares |                | Common Stock:           Control    |
   |                   Cost       | ||  |___| -------------               |                | -------------           -------    |
   |                   ----       | ||  |   |                             |                | $13,642,432             100%       |
   | Casualty-26%     $88,320     | ||  |   |                Cost         |                |                                    |
   | Fire-26%         $88,463     | ||  |   |                ----         |                |          Shares      Cost          |
   | Preferred Stock: 1,466 Shares| ||  |   | Casualty-100%    $5,944,422 |                |          -----       ----          | 
   | ----------------             | ||  |   |_____________________________|                |  Casualty  12,992,922 $751,352,485 |
   |                  Cost        | ||  |                                                  |  Fire         649,510   24,007,936 |
   |                  ----        | ||  |                                                  |                                    | 
   | Casualty-6.8%    $100,000    | ||  |                                                  |           (See Page 2)             |
   | Fire-6.8%        $100,000    | ||  |                                                  |____________________________________|
   |______________________________| ||  |                                                  
                                    ||  |                                                 
    _________________________       ||  |    _____________________________  
   |                         |      ||  |   |                             |
   |      FARMLAND MUTUAL    |      ||  |   |     NATIONWIDE PROPERTY     |                  
   |     INSURANCE COMPANY   |      ||  |   |        AND CASUALTY         |                  
   |                         |      ||  |   |      INSURANCE COMPANY      |
   | Guaranty Fund           |______||  |   |                             |
   | -------------           |_______|  |   | Common Stock: 60,000 Shares |
   | Certificate             |          |   | -------------               |
   | -----------             |          |   |                   Cost      |
   |                         |          |   |                   ----      |
   |                Cost     |          |   | Casualty-100%    $6,000,000 |
   |                ----     |          |   |_____________________________|
   | Casualty       $500,000 |          |   
   |_________________________|          |    _____________________________
                   |                    |   |                             |
                   |                    |   |      COLONIAL INSURANCE     |
    _______________|___________         |   |    COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA    |     
   |          F & B, INC.      |        |   |         (COLONIAL)          |
   |                           |        |   |                             |
   | Common Stock:    1 Share  |        |___| Common Stock: 1,750 Shares  |
   | -------------             |        |   | -------------               |
   |                           |        |   |                 Cost        |
   |                   Cost    |        |   |                 ----        |
   |                   ----    |        |   | Casualty-100%   $11,750,000 |
   | Farmland Mutual-  $10     |        |   |_____________________________|
   | 100%                      |        |
   |___________________________|        |    _____________________________        __________________________ 
        ____________________________    |   |                             |      |                          |
       |                            |   |   |         SCOTTSDALE          |      |    NATIONAL PREMIUM &    | 
       |   NATIONWIDE AGRIBUSINESS  |   |   |     INSURANCE COMPANY       |      |  BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION  |
       |     INSURANCE COMPANY      |   |   |                             |      |         COMPANY          |
       |                            |   |   | Common Stock: 30,136 Shares |      |                          |
       | Common Stock:  1,000,000   |___|___| -------------               |______| Common Stock: 10,000     |
       | -------------  Shares      |   |   |                             |      | ------------  Shares     |
       |                            |   |   |                Cost         |      |                          | 
       |                            |   |   |                ----         |      |                   Cost   |
       |                            |   |   | Casualty-100%  $150,000,000 |      |                   ----   |                    
       | Casualty-99.9% $26,714,335 |   |   |_____________________________|      | Scottsdale-100%  $10,000 |
       |                            |   |                                        |__________________________|
       | Other Capital:             |   |
       | --------------             |   |
       | Casualty-Ptd.  $   713,567 |   |
       |____________________________|   |
                                        |       
                                              
                                             
                                              



                                                 
                                           
                                              
                                             
                                             
                                                                 
                                             
                                                                                                                                   






                                        |
                                        |
                                        | 
                                        |    _____________________________                       ______________________________
                                        |   |      NECKURA HOLDING        |                     |           NECKURA            |
                                        |   |     COMPANY (NECKURA)       |                     |      INSURANCE COMPANY       |
                                        |   |                             |                     |                              |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 10,000 Shares |                     | Common Stock: 6,000 Shares   |
                                        |___| -------------               |_____________________| -------------                |
                                        |   |                             |               |     |                              |
                                        |   |                 Cost        |               |     |               Cost           |
                                        |   |                 ---         |               |     |               ----           |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%   $87,943,140 |               |     | Neckura-100%  DM 6,000,000   |
                                        |   |_____________________________|               |     |______________________________|   
                                        |                                                 |
                                        |                                                 |      _____________________________
                                        |                                                 |     |        NECKURA LIFE         |
                                        |                                                 |     |      INSURANCE COMPANY      |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     | Common Stock: 4,000 Shares  |
                                        |                                                 |_____| -------------               |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     |                  Cost       |
                                        |                                                 |     |                  ----       |
                                        |                                                 |     | Neckura-100%  DM 15,825,681 |   
                                        |                                                 |     |_____________________________|
                                        |                                                 |
                                        |                                                 |      _____________________________
                                        |                                                 |     |      NECKURA GENERAL        |
                                        |                                                 |     |     INSURANCE COMPANY       |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     | Common Stock: 1,500 Shares  |
                                        |                                                 |_____| ------------                |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     |               Cost          |
                                        |                                                 |     |               ----          |
                                        |                                                 |     | Neckura-100%  DM 1,656,925  |
                                        |                                                 |     |_____________________________|
                                        |                                                 | 
                                        |                                                 |      _____________________________
                                        |                                                 |     |      COLUMBUS INSURANCE     |
                                        |                                                 |     |    BROKERAGE AND SERVICE    |
                                        |                                                 |     |            GmbH             |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     | Common Stock: 1 Share       |
                                        |                                                 |_____| -------------               |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     |                Cost         |
                                        |                                                 |     |                -----        |
                                        |                                                 |     |  Neckura-100%   DM 51,639   |
                                        |                                                 |     |_____________________________|
                                        |                                                 |
                                        |                                                 |      _____________________________
                                        |                                                 |     |        AUTO DIREKT          |
                                        |                                                 |     |     INSURANCE COMPANY       |
                                        |                                                 |     |                             |
                                        |                                                 |     | Common Stock: 1,500 Shares  |
                                        |                                                 |     | -------------               |
                                        |                                                 |_____|                             |
                                        |                                                 |     |               Cost          |
                                        |                                                 |     |               ----          |
                                        |                                                 |     | Neckura-100%  DM 1,643,149  |
                                        |                                                 |     |_____________________________|
                                        |                                                 |
                                        |    _____________________________                |      ____________________________
                                        |   |          NATIONWIDE         |               |     |         SVM SALES          |
                                        |   |    DEVELOPMENT COMPANY      |               |     |           GmbH             |
                                        |   |                             |               |     |                            |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 99,000 Shares |               |     | Common Stock: 50 Shares    |
                                        |   | -------------               |               |_____| -------------              |
                                        |   |                             |                     |                            |
                                        |___|                Cost         |                     |              Cost          |
                                        |   |                ---          |                     |              ----          |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $15,100,000  |                     | Neckura-100%  DM 50,000    |
                                        |   | Other Capital:              |                     |____________________________|
                                        |   | --------------              |
                                        |   | Casualty-Ptd.  $ 2,796,100  | 
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        |
                                        |


















                                        |    _____________________________
                                        |   |          SCOTTSDALE         |
                                        |   |      INDEMNITY COMPANY      |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |___| Common Stock: 50,000 Shares |
                                        |   | -------------               |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   |                Cost         |
                                        |   |                ----         |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $8,800,000   |
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        | 
                                        |    _____________________________
                                        |   |         NATIONWIDE          |
                                        |   |     INDEMNITY COMPANY       |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 28,000 Shares |
                                        |___| -------------               |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   |                Cost         |
                                        |   |                ----         |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $294,529,000 |
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        |
                                        |    _____________________________        __________________________
                                        |   |          LONE STAR          |      |   COLONIAL COUNTY MUTUAL |
                                        |   |     GENERAL AGENCY, INC.    |      |     INSURANCE COMPANY    |
                                        |   |                             |      |                          |
                                        |   | Common Stock:  1,000 Shares |______| Surplus Debentures:      |
                                        |___| -------------               |______| -------------------      |
                                        |   |                             |      |                          |
                                        |   |                Cost         |      |          Cost            |
                                        |   |                ----         |      |          ----            |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $5,000,000   |      | Colonial $500,000        |
                                        |   |_____________________________|      | Lone Star 150,000        |
                                        |                                        |__________________________|
                                        |
                                        |    _____________________________
                                        |   |         NATIONWIDE          |
                                        |   |      COMMUNITY URBAN        |
                                        |   |       REDEVELOPMENT         |
                                        |   |        CORPORATION          |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 10 Shares     |
                                        |___| -------------               |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   |                Cost         |
                                        |   |                ----         |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $1,000       |
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        |
                                        |    _____________________________
                                        |   |         INSURANCE           |
                                        |   |    INTERMEDIARIES, INC.     |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 1,615 Shares  |
                                        |___| -------------               |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   |                Cost         |
                                        |   |                ----         |
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $1,615,000   |
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        |
                                        |    _____________________________
                                        |   |      NATIONWIDE CASH        |
                                        |   |    MANAGEMENT COMPANY       |
                                        |   |                             |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 100 Shares    |
                                        |   | -------------               |
                                        |___|                             |
                                        |   |                Cost         |
                                        |   |                ----         |
                                        |   | Casualty-90%   $9,000       |
                                        |   | NW Fin Serv-    1,000       |
                                        |   | 10%                         | 
                                        |   |_____________________________|
                                        |
                                        |
                                        |    _____________________________  
                                        |   |       CALIFORNIA CASH       | 
                                        |   |     MANAGEMENT COMPANY      | 
                                        |   |                             | 
                                        |   | Common Stock:  90 Shares    | 
                                        |___| -------------               | 
                                        |   |                             | 
                                        |   |                Cost         | 
                                        |   |                ----         | 
                                        |   | Casualty-100%  $9,000       | 
                                        |   |_____________________________|        
                                        |                                   
                                                                           











                                        |                                   
                                        |    _____________________________       __________________________
                                        |   |          NATIONWIDE         |     |       THE BEAK AND       |
                                        |   |     COMMUNICATIONS, INC.    |     |     WIRE CORPORATION     |
                                        |   |                             |     |                          |
                                        |   | Common Stock: 14,750 Shares |     | Common Stock: 750 Shares |
                                        |___| -------------               |_____| -------------            |
                                            |                             |     |                          |
                                            |                Cost         |     |           Cost           |
                                            |                ----         |     |           ----           |
                                            | Casualty-100%  $11,510,000  |     | NW Comm-  $531,000       |
                                            |                             |     | 100%                     |
                                            | Other Capital:              |     |__________________________|
                                            | --------------              |
                                            | Casualty-Ptd.     1,000,000 |
                                            |_____________________________|
    

<FN>
                                                                                          Subsidiary Companies     - Solid Line
                                                                                          Contractual Association  - Double Line

                                                                                                          December 31, 1995
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   56
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE                                           (left side)
<S>                                       <C>                                            <C>
                                           _______________________________________
                                          |                                       |
                                          |          EMPLOYERS INSURANCE          |___________________________________________
                                          |              OF WAUSAU                |___________________________________________
                                          |           A MUTUAL COMPANY            |
                                          |_______________________________________|













                                                                                                        __________________________
                                                                                                       |
                                                                                           ____________|_________________
                                                                                          |   NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE  |
                                                                                          |      COMPANY (NW LIFE)       |
                                                                                          |Common Stock: 3,814,779 Shares|
                                                                                          | -------------                |
                                                                                          |                              |
                                                                                          | NW Corp.-    Cost            |
                                                                                          | 100%         ----            |
                                                                                          |              $950,226,915    |
                                                                                          |______________________________|
                     _________________________________________________________________________________| 
        ____________|_____________               ___________|_______________       |        ______________________________       
       |        NATIONWIDE        |             |     NATIONAL CASUALTY     |      |       |      NATIONWIDE LIFE AND     |
       | FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. |             |       COMPANY (NC)        |      |       |   ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY  |
       |     (NW FIN. SERV.)      |             | Common Stock: 100 Shares  |      |       |                              |
 ______|Common Stock: 7,676 Shares|             | -------------             |      |       | Common Stock: 66,000 Shares  |
 | ____|-------------             |             |                           |      |_______| -------------                |
 | |   |               Cost       |             |               Cost        |      |       | NW Life-       Cost          |
 | |   |               ----       |             |               ----        |      |       | 100%           ----          |
 | |   | NW Life-100% $5,996,261  |             | NW Life-100%  $66,132,811 |      |       |               $58,070,003    |
 | |   |__________________________|             |___________________________|      |       |______________________________|
 | |    __________________________               ___________|_______________       |        ________________________________ 
 | |   |         NATIONWIDE       |             |                           |      |       |        WEST COAST LIFE         |   
 | |   |  INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. |             |                           |      |       |       INSURANCE COMPANY        |
 | |   |  Common Stock: 5 Shares  |             |   NCC OF AMERICA, INC.    |      |       | Common Stock:  1,000,000 Shares|
 | |___|  -------------           |             |         (INACTIVE)        |      |_______| -------------                  |
 | |   |  NW Fin. Serv.-100%      |             |                           |      |       |                                |
 | |   |                  Cost    |             |          NC-100%          |      |       |                     Cost       |
 | |   |                  ----    |             |                           |      |       |                     ----       |
 | |   |                  $5,000  |             |                           |      |       | NW Life-100%    $133,809,265   |
 | |   |__________________________|             |___________________________|      |       |________________________________|
 | |    __________________________               ______________________________    |        ____________________________  
 | |   |        NATIONWIDE        |            | EMPLOYERS LIFE INSURANCE CO. |    |       |   NATIONWIDE PROPERTY     | 
 | |   |        INVESTING         |            |     OF WAUSAU (ELIOW)        |    |       |    MANAGEMENT, INC.       | 
 | |   |        FOUNDATION        |            |                              |    |       | Common Stock: 59 Shares   | 
 | |___|                          |      ______| Common Stock: 250,000 Shares |____|_______| ------------              | 
 |  ___|                          |      |     | -------------  Cost          |    |       |                 Cost      | 
 | |   |                          |      |     |                ----          |    |       |                 ----      |
 | |   |                          |      |     | NW Life-100%   $155,000,000  |    |       |  NW Life-100%  $1,907,896 |
 | |   |   COMMON LAW TRUST       |      |     |______________________________|    |       |__________________________ |
 | |   |__________________________|      |                                         |                  |               
 | |                                     |       _____________________________     |        __________|_______________ 
 | |    __________________________       |      |       WAUSAU PREFERRED      |    |       |   MRM INVESTMENTS, INC.   |
 | |   |        NATIONWIDE        |      |      |     HEALTH INSURANCE CO.    |    |       |                           |
 | |   |        INVESTING         |      |      |                             |    |       | Common Stock: 1 Share     |
 | |___|        FOUNDATION II     |      |______| Common Stock: 200 Shares    |    |       | ------------              |
 |  ___|                          |      |      | -------------               |    |       |                           |
 | |   |                          |      |      |                  Cost       |    |       |                 Cost      |
 | |   |                          |      |      |                  ----       |    |       |  Nat. Prop.     ----      |
 | |   |    COMMON LAW TRUST      |      |      |  ELIOW -- 100%  $57,413,193 |    |       |  Mgmt.-100%    $550,000   |
 | |   |__________________________|      |      |_____________________________|    |       |___________________________|
 | |                                     |                                         |                                  
 | |                                     |       _____________________________     |       ___________________________ 
 | |    __________________________       |      |    KEY HEALTH PLAN, INC.    |    |      |          NWE, INC.        |
 | |   |       NATIONWIDE         |      |      |                             |    |      |                           |
 | |   |    SEPARATE ACCOUNT      |      |______| Common Stock:  1,000 Shares |    |______| Common Stock: 100 Shares  |
 | |   |          TRUST           |             | -------------               |           | ------------              |
 | |___|                          |             |                  Cost       |           |                 Cost      | 
 |  ___|                          |             |                  ----       |           |                 ----      | 
 | |   |    COMMON LAW TRUST      |             | ELIOW-80%        $2,700,000 |           |  NW Life-100% $35,971,375 | 
 | |   |                          |             |_____________________________|           |___________________________| 
 | |   |__________________________|                                                                                     
 | |                                                                                      
 | |    __________________________                                                                
 | |   |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |                                           
 | |   |    INVESTMENT TRUST      |    
 | |___|                          |    
 |_____|                          |    
       |    COMMON LAW TRUST      |    
       |__________________________|    
</TABLE>                                                                       
                                                 
<PAGE>   57

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE                                           (middle)

<S>                              <C>                        <C>                                      <C>
                                 _______________________________________
                                |                                       |
________________________________|          NATIONWIDE MUTUAL            |___________________________________________________________
________________________________|          INSURANCE COMPANY            |___________________________________________________________
                                |              (CASUALTY)               |
                                |_______________________________________|
                                                    |               _______________________________________________________________
                                  __________________|______________|___       
                                 |  NATIONWIDE CORPORATION (NW Corp)   |      
                                 | Common Stock:     Control:          |
                                 | -------------     -------           |
                                 |  13,642,432         100%            |                        
                                 |                                     |
                                 |           Shares       Cost         |                 
                                 |           ------       ----         |
                                 | Casualty   12,992,922  $751,352,485 |
                                 | Fire          649,510    24,007,936 |
                                 |_____________________________________|
                                                    |
____________________________________________________|______________________________________________________________________________
                   |                                                    |                                          |
        ___________|_________________                      _____________|_____________                 ____________|______________
       | PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFIT     |                   |      GATES, McDONALD      |               |    NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL   |
       |SERVICES CORPORATION (PEBSCO) |                   |      & COMPANY (GATES)    |               |  INSTITUTION DISTRIBUTORS |
 ______| Common Stock: 236,494 Shares |                   | Common Stock: 254 Shares  |               |      AGENCY, INC. (NFIDAI)|
|  ____| -------------                |                   | -------------             |___       _____| Common Stock: 1,000 Shares|
| |    |               Cost           |                   |                           |   |     |  ___| -------------             |
| |    | NW Corp.-     ----           |                   |               Cost        |   |     | |   |               Cost        |
| |    | 100%          $ 7,830,936    |                   |               ----        |   |     | |   | NW Corp.      ----        |
| |    |______________________________|                   | NW Corp.-     $25,683,532 |   |     | |   | 100%          $19,501,000 |
| |                                                       | 100%                      |   |     | |   |___________________________|
| |                                                       |___________________________|   |     | |
| |                                                                                       |     | |
| |                                                        ___________________________    |     | |                                
| |     ____________________________                      |  GATES, McDONALD & COMPANY|   |     | |    ___________________________ 
| |    |     PEBSCO SECURITIES      |                     |     OF NEW YORK, INC.     |   |     | |   |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS     |
| |    |           CORP.            |                     | Common Stock: 3 Shares    |   |     | |   |     DISTRIBUTORS AGY.     |
| |____| Common Stock: 5,000 Shares |                     | -------------             |___|     | |   |      OF ALABAMA, INC.     |
| |    | -------------              |                     |                           |   |     | |___|Common Stock: 10,000 Shares|
| |    |                  Cost      |                     |                Cost       |   |     | |   |-----------                |
| |    |                  ----      |                     |                ----       |   |     | |   |               Cost        |
| |    |     PEBSCO-100%  $25,000   |                     | Gates-100%     $106,947   |   |     | |   |               ----        |
| |    |____________________________|                     |                           |   |     | |   | NFIDAI-100%    $100       |
| |                                                       |___________________________|   |     | |   |___________________________|
| |                                                                                       |     | |                                
| |                                                                                       |     | |                                
| |                                                        ___________________________    |     | |                                
| |     ____________________________                      |  GATES, McDONALD & COMPANY|   |     | |                                
| |    |          PEBSCO OF         |                     |         OF NEVADA         |   |     | |    ___________________________ 
| |    |           ALABAMA          |                     |                           |   |     | |   |    LANDMARK FINANCIAL     |
| |    |Common Stock: 100,000 Shares|                     |   Common Stock: 40 Shares |___|     | |   |        SERVICES OF        |
| |____|-------------               |                     |                           |         | |   |       NEW YORK, INC.      |
| |    |                   Cost     |                     |   Gates-100%    Cost      |         | |___|Common Stock: 10,000 Shares|
| |    |                   ----     |                     |                 ----      |         | |   |-------------              |
| |    |  PEBSCO-100%      $1,000   |                     |                 $93,750   |         | |   |               Cost        |
| |    |____________________________|                     |___________________________|         | |   |               ----        |
| |                                                                                             | |   | NFIDAI-100%    $10,100    |
| |                                                                                             | |   |___________________________|
| |                                                                                             | |                                
| |                                                                                             | |                                
| |     ____________________________                                                            | |                                
| |    |         PEBSCO OF          |                                                           | |                                
| |    |         ARKANSAS           |                                                           | |    ___________________________ 
| |    | Common Stock: 50,000 Shares|                                                           | |   |    FINANCIAL HORIZONS     |
| |____| -------------              |                                                           | |   |      SECURITIES CORP.     |
| |    |                  Cost      |                           ________________________________|_|___|Common Stock: 10,000 Shares|
| |    |                  ----      |                          |  AFFILIATE AGENCY, INC.   |    | |   |-------------              |
| |    | PEBSCO-100%      $500      |                          |                           |    | |   |               Cost        |
| |    |____________________________|                          |  Common Stock: 100 Shares |    | |   |               ----        |
| |                                                            |                           |    | |   | NFIDAI-100%   $153,000    |
| |                                                            |   NFIDAI-100%   Cost      |    | |   |___________________________|
| |                                                            |                 ----      |    | |                                
| |     ___________________________                            |                 $100      |    | |                                
| |    | PEBSCO OF MASSACHUSETTS   |                           |___________________________|    | |                                
| |    |  INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.   |                                                            | |    ___________________________ 
| |____| Common Stock: 1,000 Shares|                                                            | |   |                           |
| |    | -------------             |                                                            | |   |     FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |
| |    |                   Cost    |                                                            | |___|        DISTRIBUTORS       |
| |    |                   ----    |                                                            |  ___|       AGENCY OF OHIO,     |
| |    | PEBSCO-100%      $1,000   |                                                            | |   |            INC.           |
| |    |___________________________|                                                            | |   |___________________________|
| |                                                                                             | |                                
| |                                                                                             | |                                












| |                                                                                             | |                                
| |     ___________________________                                                             | |    ___________________________ 
| |    |         PEBSCO OF         |                                                            | |   |                           |
| |    |         MONTANA           |                                                            | |___|     FINANCIAL HORIZONS    |
| |____| Common Stock: 500 Shares  |                                                            |  ___|    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY    |
| |    | -------------             |                                                            | |   |     OF OKLAHOMA, INC.     |
| |    |                  Cost     |                                                            | |   |___________________________|
| |    |                  ----     |                                                            | |                              
| |    | PEBSCO-100%      $500     |                                                            | |                           
| |    |___________________________|                                                            | |                           
| |                                                                                             | |                                
| |     ___________________________                                                             | |                                
| |    |         PEBSCO OF         |                                                            | |    ___________________________ 
| |    |         NEW MEXICO        |                                                            | |   |                           |
| |    |                           |                                                            | |___|    FINANCIAL HORIZONS     |
| |____|Common Stock: 1,000 Shares |                                                            |  ___|    DISTRIBUTORS AGENCY    |
| |    |-------------              |                                                            | |   |       OF TEXAS, INC.      |
| |    |                   Cost    |                                                            | |   |___________________________|
| |    |                   -----   |                                                            | |                                
| |    | PEBSCO-100%      $1,000   |                                                            | |                                
| |    |___________________________|                                                            | |    ___________________________ 
| |                                                                                             | |   |                           |
| |     ___________________________                                                             | |___|         AFFILIATE         |
| |____|                           |                                                            |_____|         AGENCY OF         |
|______|         PEBSCO OF         |                                                                  |         OHIO, INC.        |
       |        TEXAS, INC.        |                                                                  |                           |
       |___________________________|                                                                  |___________________________|
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
</TABLE>
                                                    
<PAGE>   58
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              NATIONWIDE INSURANCE ENTERPRISE                                           (right side)
<S>                     <C>                             <C>                                      
                       _______________________________________
                      |                                       |
______________________|          NATIONWIDE MUTUAL            |
______________________|        FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY         |
                      |               (FIRE)                  |
                      |_______________________________________|
________________________________________|                                                  










                                                    
____________________________________________________________________
                        |                        |                  |
           _____________|_____________           |      ____________|______________
          |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          |     |    NATIONWIDE HMO, INC.   |
          |  INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.  |          |     |         (NW HMO)          |
          |           (NEA)           |          |     | Common Stock: 100 Shares  |
   _______| Common Stock: 500 Shares  |          |_____| ------------              |
  |  _____| -------------             |          |     |               Cost        |
  | |     |               Cost        |          |     |               ----        |
  | |     | NW Corp.-     ----        |          |     | NW Corp.-                 |
  | |     | 100%          $5,000      |          |     | 100%          $14,603,732 |
  | |     |___________________________|          |     |___________________________|
  | |                                            |                   
  | |      ___________________________           |      ___________________________ 
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          |     |    INHEALTH MANAGEMENT    |
  | |     |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          |     |       SYSTEMS, INC.       |
  | |_____|      OF ALABAMA, INC.     |          |     | Common Stock: 100 Shares  |
  | |     | Common Stock: 500 Shares  |          |_____| -------------             |
  | |     | -------------             |          |     |                           |
  | |     |               Cost        |          |     |               Cost        |
  | |     |               ----        |          |     | NW HMO        ----        |
  | |     | NEA-100%      $5,000      |          |     | INC.-100%   $25,149       |
  | |     |___________________________|          |     |___________________________|
  | |                                            |                                  
  | |      ___________________________           |      ___________________________ 
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          |     |         INHEALTH          |
  | |     |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          |     |        AGENCY, INC.       |
  | |     |      OF MONTANA, INC.     |          |     | Common Stock: 100 Shares  |
  | |_____| Common Stock: 500 Shares  |          |_____| -------------             |
  | |     | -------------             |                |               Cost        |
  | |     |               Cost        |                | NW HMO        ----        |
  | |     |               -----       |                | INC.-99%   $116,077       |
  | |     | NEA-100%      $500        |                |___________________________|
  | |     |___________________________|          
  | |                                            
  | |      ___________________________           
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          
  | |     |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          
  | |_____|       OF NEVADA, INC.     |          
  | |     | Common Stock:  500 Shares |          
  | |     | -------------  Cost       |          
  | |     |                ----       |          
  | |     | NEA-100%       $500       |          
  | |     |___________________________|          
  | |                                            
  | |      ___________________________           
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          
  | |     |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          
  | |_____|        OF OHIO, INC.      |          
  | |     | Common Stock:  100 Shares |          
  | |     | -------------  Cost       |          
  | |     |                ----       |          
  | |     | NEA-91%        $5,000     |          
  | |     |___________________________|          
  | |                                            
  | |      ___________________________           
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          
  | |     |     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          
  | |_____|      OF WYOMING, INC.     |          
  | |     | Common Stock:  500 Shares |          
  | |     | -------------  Cost       |          
  | |     |                ----       |          
  | |     | NEA-100%       $500       |          
  | |     |___________________________|          
  | |                                            
  | |      ___________________________           
  | |     |                           |          
  | |     |      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |          
  | |_____|     INVESTOR SERVICES     |          
  | |     |       OF TEXAS, INC.      |          
  | |     |                           |          
  | |     |___________________________|          









  | |                                                               
  | |      ___________________________        
  | |     |                           |       
  | |_____|      NEA VALUEBUILDER     |       
  |_______|     INVESTOR SERVICES     |       
          |      OF OKLAHOMA, INC.    |       
          |                           |       
          |___________________________|       
                                              






Subsidiary Companies     --  Solid Line
Contractual Association  --  Double Line

December 31, 1995

</TABLE>
                                    Page 2
<PAGE>   59

Item 27.      NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS

   
              The number of Contract Owners for Qualified and Non-Qualified
              Contracts as of February 22, 1996, was 2,128 and 5,010,
              respectively.
    

Item 28.      INDEMNIFICATION

              Provision is made in the Company's Amended Code of Regulations and
              expressly authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State
              of Ohio, for indemnification by the Company of any person who was
              or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
              threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
              whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason
              of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or
              employee of the Company, against expenses, including attorneys'
              fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
              reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action,
              suit or proceeding, to the extent and under the circumstances
              permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Ohio.

              Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
              Securities Act of 1933 ("Act") may be permitted to directors,
              officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the
              foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that in the
              opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
              indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
              and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
              indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
              by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
              officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
              defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
              director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
              securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
              opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
              precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
              question whether such indemnification by it is against public
              policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
              adjudication of such issue.


                                    91 of 96
<PAGE>   60
Item 29.      PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

              (a)   The Principal Underwriter is Fidelity Investments 
                    Institutional Services Company, Inc. which does not act as 
                    principal underwriter, depositor, sponsor, or investment 
                    adviser to any other investment company.

              (b)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              NAME AND PRINCIPAL
              BUSINESS ADDRESS                                POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER
              ----------------                                --------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
              William F. Devin                              Director
              Edward C. Johnson 3d                          Director
              Richard G. Malconian                          President
              Paul J. Hondros                               President
              Charles Delle Donne                           Senior Vice President and Regional Manager
              Gary Horby                                    Senior Vice President and Regional Manager
              David Liebrock                                Senior Vice President and Regional Manager
              Nishan Vartabedian                            Senior Vice President and Regional Manager
              James M. McKinney                             Senior Vice President
              Lorrayne Chu                                  Senior Vice President
              Thomas T. Bieniek                             Senior Vice President
              Marie Harrigan                                Senior Vice President
              Brian A. Clancey                              Senior Vice President
              William Adair                                 Senior Vice President, Broker/Dealer
              Gregory Brakovich                             Senior Vice President, Broker/Dealer
              Virginia M. Meany                             Senior Vice President, Client Services
              Robert MacDonald                              Senior Vice President, Insurance Market
              Reed Tupper                                   Senior Vice President, Insurance Market
              Arthur S. Loring                              Senior Vice President, Clerk and General Counsel
              Suan Pfau                                     Vice President, Finance
              Joseph Collins                                Vice President, Human Resources
              Robert Sauvageau                              Vice President, Systems
              Michael P. Castellano                         Financial Operations Officer
              Lois Towers                                   Compliance Officer
              Steven Jonas                                  Treasurer
              John D. Crumrine                              Assistant Treasurer
              David C. Weinstein                            Assistant Clerk
</TABLE>

              (c)   Not applicable

              The address for each person named in Item 29 is 82 Devonshire 
              Street, Boston, Massachusetts  02109.

                                    92 of 96
<PAGE>   61
Item 30.      LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

   
              Robert O. Cline
              Nationwide Life Insurance Company
              One Nationwide Plaza
              Columbus, OH  43216
    

Item 31.      MANAGEMENT SERVICES

              Not Applicable

Item 32.      UNDERTAKINGS

              The Registrant hereby undertakes to:

              (a)   file a post-effective amendment to this registration
                    statement as frequently as is necessary to ensure that the
                    audited financial statements in the registration statement
                    are never more than 16 months old for so long as payments
                    under the variable annuity contracts may be accepted;

              (b)   include either (1) as part of any application to purchase a
                    contract offered by the prospectus, a space that an
                    applicant can check to request a Statement of Additional
                    Information, or (2) a post card or similar written
                    communication affixed to or included in the prospectus that
                    the applicant can remove to send for a Statement of
                    Additional Information; and

              (c)   deliver any Statement of Additional Information and any
                    financial statements required to be made available under
                    this form promptly upon written or oral request.

   
              The Registrant hereby represents that any contract offered by the
              prospectus and which is issued pursuant to Section 403(b) of the
              Code is issued by the Registrant in reliance upon, and in 
              compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Commission's 
              industry-wide no-action letter to the American Council of Life 
              Insurance (publicly available November 28, 1988) which permits 
              withdrawal restrictions to the extent necessary to comply with 
              IRC Section 403(b)(11).
    


                                    93 of 96
<PAGE>   62
                                   Offered by
                        Nationwide Life Insurance Company





                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY





                  Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account

                  Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contract



                                   PROSPECTUS




   
                                   May 1, 1996
    

                                    94 of 96
<PAGE>   63
              ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT AND INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
                        ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and 
Contract Owners' of Nationwide Fidelity Advisor Variable Account:


The audits referred to in our report on Nationwide Life Insurance Company (the
Company) dated February 26, 1996, included the related financial statement
schedules as of December 31, 1995, and for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1995, included in the registration statement. These
financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statement schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial
statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated
financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects
the information set forth therein.

We consent to the use of our reports included herein and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Services" in the Statement of Additional Information.



                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



Columbus, Ohio
April 26, 1996

                                    95 of 96
<PAGE>   64
                                   SIGNATURES

   
     As required by the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the Registrant, NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT, certifies
that it meets the requirements of Securities Act Rule 485(b) for effectiveness
of this Post-Effective Amendment and has caused this Post-Effective Amendment to
be signed on its behalf in the City of Columbus, and State of Ohio, on this 26th
day of April, 1996.
    

                                   NATIONWIDE FIDELITY ADVISOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                    (Registrant)

                                         NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                    (Depositor)

                                                By/s/JOSEPH P. RATH
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                   Joseph P. Rath
                                                Vice President and
                                              Associate General Counsel

   
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 26th day
of April, 1996.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                                    TITLE
<S>                                         <C>                                  <C>
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 Officer and Director
- ------------------------------------------
Joseph J. Gasper
    

 HENRY S. HOLLOWAY                                    Chairman of the Board and Director
- ------------------------------------------
Henry S. Holloway

   
                                             Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Nationwide
D. RICHARD MCFERSON                                   Insurance Enterprise and Director
- ------------------------------------------
D. 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

ARDEN L. SHISLER                                         Director                            Attorney-in-Fact
- ------------------------------------------
Arden L. Shisler

ROBERT L. STEWART                                        Director
- ------------------------------------------
Robert L. Stewart

NANCY C. THOMAS                                          Director
- ------------------------------------------
Nancy C. Thomas

HAROLD W. WEIHL                                          Director
- ------------------------------------------
Harold W. Weihl
</TABLE>


                                    96 of 96
<PAGE>   65
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned as
directors and/or officers of NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an Ohio
corporation, which has filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended,
various Registration Statements and amendments thereto for the registration
under said Act of Individual Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts in connection
with the 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 and 
Nationwide Variable Account-8; 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 the
Nationwide Multiple Maturity Separate Account, and the registration of Group
Flexible fund Retirement Contracts in connection with the Nationwide DC
Variable Account, Nationwide DCVA III, and the 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 the Nationwide VLI Separate Account, Nationwide 
VLI Separate Account-2, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3 of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company, hereby constitutes and appoints D. Richard McFerson, Joseph
J. Gasper, Gordon E. McCutchan, 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
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 4th day of April, 1996.

/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 P. Engel                   /s/ Robert A. Oakley                 
- -------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
Willard P. 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, Director         -------------------------------------
                                       Arden L. Shisler, Director           
/s/ Joseph J. Gasper                                                        
- -------------------------------------  /s/ Robert L. Stewart                
Joseph J. Gasper, President and Chief  -------------------------------------
Operating Officer and Director         Robert L. Stewart, Director          
                                                                            
/s/ Henry S. Holloway                  /s/ Nancy C. Thomas                 
- -------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
Henry S. Holloway, Chairman of the     Nancy C. Thomas, Director            
Board, Director                                                             
                                       /s/ Harold W. Weihl                  
/s/ D. Richard McFerson                -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------  Harold W. Weihl, Director            
D. Richard McFerson, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer-Nationwide
Insurance Enterprise and Director




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission