THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 1996 LONG-TERM EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

NVA Target Award Opportunity

Stock Option Award

NVA Performance Period:

Target NVA Award:* $

Option Type: [Incentive] [Non-Qualified]

Date of Grant:                     , 200  

Number of Shares:                     

Exercise Price: $             per share

Option Term:

[Participant’s Name] (please print)

Participant’s Signature

Overview of Your NVA Target Award Opportunity. As described below, your NVA Target Award Opportunity provides you with an opportunity to have your NVA Award Bank credited (or debited) based on the Enterprise’s NVA performance over the NVA Performance Period, and to receive a distribution equal to 1/3 of any positive balance in your NVA Award Bank after the close of the NVA Performance Period.

NVA Award Bank. The Company will maintain a bookkeeping account in your name (your “NVA Award Bank”) and, based on the Enterprise’s NVA performance over the NVA Performance Period, will credit (or debit) your NVA Award Bank as soon as practicable after the last day of the NVA Performance Period in accordance with the following formulas:

NIACC:

CHANGE IN NIACC:

“Actual Return Rate”  =   ^{Adjusted GAAP Net Income}

“Hurdle Net Income” = Cost of Capital x Average Capital _Year1

Determination of NVA Performance. NVA performance will be determined by the Committee based on the following metrics:

NIACC. NIACC is measured based on the incremental change in Enterprise value created by the current year’s economic results, as follows:

CHANGE IN NIACC. Change in NIACC is measured based on the change in NIACC from one year to the next during the NVA Performance Period, as follows:

Distribution. Subject to Section 2 below, you will receive a distribution equal to 1/3 of any positive balance in your NVA Award Bank (less applicable tax withholding) as soon as practicable after the Committee credits (or debits) your NVA Award Bank pursuant to subsection 1(a) above; provided, however, that such payment shall in all events be made within the calendar year immediately following the close of the NVA Performance Period.

Termination. If your employment terminates prior to the last day of the NVA Performance Period, the Company’s obligation to make a contribution to your

Termination of Employment due to Death, Disability or Retirement. If your employment is terminated during the NVA Performance Period by reason of your death, Disability or Retirement, a pro-rata award for the NVA Performance Period will be credited (or debited) to your NVA Award Bank and you will receive three equal distributions from your NVA Award Bank. Each distribution will be equal to 1/3 of any positive balance in your NVA Award Bank after the prorated amount is credited (or debited) pursuant to the preceding sentence, less applicable tax withholding (the “Termination Distributions”). The Termination Distributions shall be made at the same time distributions from NVA Award Banks are made to other participants in the three calendar years immediately following the NVA Performance Period for this NVA Award. If distributions are not made to other Participants in such years, the Termination Distributions shall be made on such dates in the three applicable calendar years as the Committee shall determine. However, payment from the NVA Award Bank may be accelerated if your termination of employment is due to your death and the beneficiary of your Award is your estate. The executor or other authorized representative of your estate may request acceleration of the distribution method otherwise applicable pursuant to this Award Agreement. For purposes of clarity, except for prorated credits or debits made pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2(b), no credits or debits will be made to or from your NVA Bank Award following termination of employment.

Termination of Employment for Other Reasons. If your employment terminates during the NVA Performance Period for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, your NVA Award Bank shall be forfeited provided, however, that unless your employment is terminated for Cause, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may make a prorated credit (or debit) to your NVA Award Bank and may allow you to receive a prorated amount of the distribution you would have received in [2007] had your employment not terminated (the “Prorated Distribution”). The proration of any such Prorated Distribution shall be based on the portion of the NVA Performance Period that you were employed, and shall be paid (subject to applicable tax withholding) at the same time distributions from NVA Award Banks are made to other Participants in [2007]. If distributions are not made to other Participants in such calendar year, distributions shall be made on such date in [2007] as the Committee shall determine. The remaining portion of your NVA Award Bank shall be forfeited.

Retirement. For purposes of your NVA Target Award Opportunity, “Retirement” shall mean termination of your employment with the Company on or after the date on which you shall have:

Attained Normal Retirement Age;

Attained age 55 and completed 180 Months of Vesting Service; or

Attained age 62 and completed 60 Months of Vesting Service, whichever is earliest.

Cause. For purposes of your NVA Target Award Opportunity, “Cause” shall mean (a) willful misconduct on your part that is materially detrimental to the Company; or (b) your conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; provided, however, that if you have entered into an employment agreement that is binding as of the date of employment termination, and if such employment agreement defines “Cause,” such definition of “Cause” shall apply. “Cause” under either (a) or (b) shall be determined in good faith by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and right to deduct or withhold, or require you to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable federal, state, and local tax withholding obligations arising with respect to any payment associated with your NVA Target Award Opportunity. With respect to the minimum statutory tax withholding required in connection with the distribution of any Shares under your NVA Target Award Opportunity, you may elect to satisfy such withholding requirement by having the Company withhold Shares in accordance with Section 17.2 of the Plan. In addition, Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory withholding (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes) that could be imposed on the transaction shall automatically be withheld from your NVA Target Award Opportunity if and to the extent you fail to timely remit the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy (or fail to make arrangements with the Company for the timely satisfaction of) applicable tax withholding obligations.

Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the terms of this NVA Award Opportunity (and any deferral thereof) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service (“Section 409A”). Any provision hereof or in the Plan (and any rights conveyed hereby or thereby) that would cause this NVA Target Award Opportunity and any amounts payable with respect to this NVA Target Award Opportunity (or any other plan or award) to fail to satisfy Section 409A shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Section 409A, which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A. In addition, payment of amounts under this Agreement may be delayed for up to six months following termination of your employment if (and to the extent) deemed necessary by the Committee to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code.

Vesting and Exercise of Your Stock Option Award. Your Stock Option Award does not provide you with any rights or interest therein until it vests and becomes exercisable. Your Stock Option Award will vest and become exercisable as follows:

[Percentage/ratio/amount] of your Stock Option Award shall become vested and exercisable on [each of the first, second, third] anniversarie(s) of the Date of Grant, provided you have continued in the employment of the Company or an Affiliate through such anniversary dates;

Upon your termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement, any unvested portion of your Stock Option Award shall vest and become exercisable; and

At the sole discretion of the Committee, upon your termination of employment by reason of dismissal for the convenience of the Company or an Affiliate or your termination of employment (other than your Retirement) coincident with the receipt of benefits under a funded or unfunded retirement plan or arrangement of the Company or an Affiliate, any unvested portion of your Stock Option Award shall vest and become exercisable.

How to Exercise. Your Stock Option Award may be exercised by written notice to the Company’s Compensation and Benefits department, specifying the number of Shares you then desire to purchase, which may not be fewer than twenty-five (25), together with provision for payment of the Exercise Price. Subject to such limitations as the Committee may impose (including prohibition of one or more of the following payment methods), payment of the Exercise Price may be made by (a) check payable to the order of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc., for an amount in United States dollars equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of such Shares, (b) tendering to the Company Shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the trading date immediately preceding the date of exercise) equal to such Exercise Price, (c) broker-assisted exercise, or (d) a combination of such methods.

Who Can Exercise. During your lifetime, your Stock Option Award shall be exercisable only by you. Your Stock Option Award may not be transferred or assigned except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

Termination of Your Stock Option Award. If your employment terminates during the Option Term, any portion of your Stock Option Award that is not (and does not become) vested and exercisable on the date your employment terminates shall immediately terminate and be of no force or effect. Any portion of your Stock Option Award that is (or becomes) vested and exercisable on the date your employment terminates shall continue to be exercisable until your Stock Option Award terminates in accordance with the following:

If your employment terminates during the Option Term by reason of death or Disability, the vested portion of your Stock Option Award will terminate and have no force or effect upon the earlier of one (1) year after the date of death or Disability or the expiration of the Option Term;

If your employment terminates during the Option Term by reason of Retirement, the vested portion of your Stock Option Award will terminate and have no force or effect upon the earlier of five (5) years after the date of Retirement or the expiration of the Option Term;

If your employment terminates during the Option Term due to your dismissal for the convenience of the Company or an Affiliate, the vested portion of your Stock Option Award will terminate and have no force or effect upon the earlier of three (3) months after the date of termination of employment (or such longer period as may be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee) or the expiration of the Option Term;

If your employment terminates during the Option Term for any other reason, the vested portion of your Stock Option Award will terminate and have no force or effect upon the earlier of three (3) months after the date of termination of employment or the expiration of the Option Term; and

If you continue in the employ of the Enterprise through the Option Term, the vested portion of your Stock Option Award will terminate and have no force or effect upon the expiration of the Option Term.

Retirement. For purposes of this Stock Option Award, “Retirement” shall mean your termination of employment on or after the date on which you shall have:

Attained Normal Retirement Age;

Attained age 55 and completed 180 Months of Vesting Service; or

Attained age 62 and completed 60 Months of Vesting Service, whichever is earliest.

Cause. For purposes of this Stock Option Award, “Cause” shall mean (a) willful misconduct on your part that is materially detrimental to the Company; or (b) your conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; provided, however, that if you have entered into an employment agreement that is binding as of the date of employment termination, and if such employment agreement defines “Cause,” such definition of “Cause” shall apply. “Cause” under either (a) or (b) shall be determined in good faith by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and right to deduct or withhold, or require you to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable deferral, state, and local taxes withholding obligations arising with respect to your Stock Option Award. With respect to the minimum statutory tax withholding required in connection with the exercise of your Stock Option Award, you may elect to satisfy such withholding requirement by having the Company withhold Shares in accordance with Section 17.2 of the Plan. In addition, Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory withholding (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes) that could be imposed shall automatically be withheld upon exercise of your Stock Option Award if and to the extent you fail to timely remit the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy (or fail to make arrangements with the Company for the timely satisfaction of) applicable tax withholding obligations.

Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the terms of this Stock Option Award (and any deferral thereof) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service (“Section 409A”). Any provision hereof or in the Plan (and any rights conveyed hereby or thereby) that would cause this Stock Option Award and any amounts payable with respect to this Stock Option Award (or any other plan or award) to fail to satisfy Section 409A shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Section 409A, which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A. In addition, payment of amounts under this Agreement may be delayed for up to six months following termination of your employment if (and to the extent) deemed necessary by the Committee to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code.