By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland and Roger Dahl
October 7, 2002

If your city is facing the challenge of providing a retiree healthcare program, now is the time to speak with Nationwide Retirement Solutions about taking advantage of the USCM Deferred Compensation Program. This was the message presented by Theresa Cruz-Myers, Market Director for Nationwide Retirement Solutions, at the September 21 Conference Fall Leadership meeting in Santa Barbara.

Cruz-Myers told the mayors "your concerns are our concerns." Many mayors may not be familiar with Nationwide outside of the Deferred Compensation Program. Nationwide has a strong corporate commitment. Their commitment to improve communities across the country was obvious as Cruz-Myers cited examples of Nationwide's significant efforts including the investment of over $250 million in cities across the country to revitalize urban neighborhoods. In addition, Nationwide has made significant donations to Habitat for Humanity and the National Latino Children's Institute and is a long-time sponsor of the NAACP Image Awards.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors partnership with Nationwide Retirement Solutions has provided city employees with the opportunity to save pre-tax dollars for their retirement. Cruz-Myers said that 4,000 local governments are members of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Program, which represents over 300,000 city employees. She stressed that while participation in the program is increasing, that more than 50 percent of those cities represented at the Mayor's Leadership Conference in Santa Barbara did NOT utilize the program.

Nationwide continues to be the industry leader and she encouraged mayors to review their program keeping in mind Nationwide's commitment to provide the best overall supplemental retirement program to public employees. Nationwide strives to enhance the program, and has developed tools like a Spanish educational web'site and has recently made available investment guidance resources through MorningStar. While Nationwide Retirement Solutions is the largest provider of Deferred Compensation retirement programs in the country, they realize that to maintain their position in the market place, they must stay "fresh" and continue to grow.

Following Cruz-Myers- presentation, questions and comments arose regarding the challenges cities face in meeting the needs of retiree health care. Cruz-Myers gave an overview of a tax-free program offered by Nationwide Retirement Solutions to assist city personnel in meeting this need. She concluded by encouraging the mayors to contact Conference staffers Roger Dahl at 202-861-6731 or Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland at 301-460-5251 or Maggie Kwasny at Nationwide Retirement Solutions, 614-854-8697 for more information on the Post-employment Health Benefits Program or PHEP or other related assistance.