There's wide, there's double-wide, and then there's Nationwide. Nationwide Financial Services (NFS) is the holding company for Nationwide Life Insurance and is itself held by insurance giant Nationwide Mutual. NFS offers such long-term savings and retirement products as annuities, life insurance, and institutional products. The company writes individual variable annuity contracts; it also offers group and individual protective life insurance policies. Retirement plans are offered to individuals and through employer-sponsored plans. The company also provides banking services. Products are sold through direct sales and brokers.