COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 7 -- Nationwide Mutual Insurance issued the following news release:

Nationwide Financial and Waddell & Reed, Inc. today announced they will host a series of Life Insurance Awareness Month events for clients across the country. These events help Waddell & Reed advisors educate their clients and strengthen their relationships through real testimonials about the importance of life insurance (http://www.nationwide.com/life-insurance.jsp).

The LIFE Foundation, which leads the Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) initiative every September, has identified local college students who either have been impacted by the benefits of life insurance (http://www.nationwide.com/why-buy-life-insurance.jsp) or by not having enough life insurance. These students will share their personal stories at the events to give clients a more vivid picture of how life insurance can change people's lives. At the end of each event the students will be presented with a donation to their individual scholarship funds.

"Listening to real people share their personal experiences is one of the most powerful ways to convey the importance of life insurance to clients," said Eric Henderson, senior vice president of Individual Products and Solutions for Nationwide Financial. "These events will help advisors demonstrate the true value of life insurance and can serve as a starting point for a deeper conversation about their clients' life insurance needs."

For the second year in a row, these events are scheduled throughout September and are only open to select Waddell & Reed advisors and their clients.

"Last year, Nationwide demonstrated its outstanding commitment to LIAM by sponsoring numerous events and presentations to packed audiences on how lives were changed dramatically by the loss of a beloved family member and how life insurance made a positive impact from that tragic loss," said Bill Miller, senior vice president of Risk Management for Waddell & Reed, Inc. "We look forward to partnering with Nationwide to support these events and the tremendous good that comes from these activities, both for our advisors and their clients."

Jeff Mendola, Waddell & Reed's Managing Principal of the Monroeville Division, says the events allow their clients and new advisors to take away a very tangible story that they can pass on to create awareness for the need of proper life insurance.

"The message that was delivered at the event in Pittsburgh last year concerning the need for proper life insurance coverage was phenomenal," Mendola said. "The young lady who spoke about her life experience and how life insurance impacted that experience was very touching."

Waddell & Reed advisors interested in learning more about the program should contact their Nationwide wholesaler.

TNS C 71NayakRashmita 120908-4019047 StaffFurigay